Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Rumours on David Alaba, Matteo Darmian

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly set to battle against rivals Manchester City for the signature of Bayern Munich defender David Alaba. Meanwhile, Napoli are the latest Serie A club linked with a move for Matteo Darmian.

The Sunday People's Tom Hopkinson wrote the Red Devils' interest in Alaba has intensified after the club scouted their target twice while he was on duty with Austria during the international break.

Mourinho's Austrian raid may not end there, either, after Hopkinson added the Premier League giants could recruit Alaba's international team-mate and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Julian Baumgartlinger as well.

Alaba has frequently shifted between defence and midfield during his eight-year stay at Bayern, although Bleacher Report's Lars Pollmann recently dubbed the 24-year-old one of the best left-backs in European football:

Real Madrid are also thought to be interested in the full-back, with Hopkinson mentioning Mourinho "would love to beat his old club" to the capture of a player reportedly valued at £40 million.

Mourinho already has England's Luke Shaw as first pick at left-back when fit, while Darmian has filled in the role when necessary, but OptaFranz showed Alaba to be a much more seasoned professional, despite his young age:

Alaba made his first-team debut for Bayern in 2010 and has established himself as a staple in the Bavarians' lineup, so much so that Barcelona were strongly linked with a move for the player earlier in 2016.

According to Maite Anton of Spanish newspaper Sport, talks between the two parties collapsed due to the fact Alaba saw his future in central midfield, while Barca wanted the Austrian to remain in defence for the long term. It's as of yet unclear what United's plans are for Alaba if they managed to lure him to Old Trafford.

In any case, the malleable maestro has a contract at the Allianz Arena until 2021, and Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently addressed rumours of City interest to German broadcaster Sky Sport (h/t Calciomercato): “He [Alaba] has just extended his stay with the club and everyone knows what it does mean for a big club like Bayern Munich.”

Elsewhere, Italian newspaper Il Mattino (h/t Sport Witness' Dipesh Agarwal) reported Napoli are hunting Darmian as left-back cover. Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News may not recommend such a deal after Darmian's display in the position during Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal, however:

The report said Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri is in the market for a replacement for Faouzi Ghoulam, who will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria in the new year.

Former Torino star Darmian has fallen down the pecking order at United following Mourinho's arrival at the helm this year, although the Portuguese boss may wish to keep the Italian around as injury insurance this winter.