Manchester United have agreed a “long-term lucrative contract” with Valencia centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, according to Argentinian outlet Diario Ole (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Express).

Chapman’s article indicates the two clubs are “yet to strike a fee,” but that Valencia will hold out for the defender’s £36 million release clause to be matched. Simon Jones of the MailOnline reiterates this, while suggesting Valencia’s pending Champions League qualification will affect the club’s need to sell.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will confirm a spot in Europe’s elite competition if they beat Almeria on Saturday. Valencia just need to better Sevilla‘s result against Malaga to confirm fourth place and entry into the competition’s qualifying round, something United managed in the Premier League this season.

Jones suggests the Champions League will provide Valencia with “much-needed revenue” and that the club “will be under pressure to sell one of their big names” if this isn’t achieved. Either way, it’s likely United will need to pay a hefty amount to secure Otamendi’s future.

The Argentinian has put in a fantastic debut season for the Spanish club, where his combative nature has seen him dominate from the back. Otamendi sets the tone with hard tackling, dominance in the air and the willingness to put his body on the line for the team.

WhoScored.com has provided him with an average rating of 7.55 this campaign, the seventh best in the division. He is both the highest-rated Valencia player and La Liga defender this year, according to the stats website, who rank him first in-line behind the attacking elite of Barcelona and Real Madrid. You can view his quality below:

United fans will be longing to secure a top-quality replacement for ex-captain Nemanja Vidic, who departed last summer. Although he has largely failed to impress for Inter Milan, the Serbian’s aggressive tackling style used to rally the United crowd and his team-mates. Otamendi plays in a similar manner.

Pursuit of the former Porto man may become more prominent with the news Mats Hummels has reportedly “rejected” a switch to Old Trafford and decided to remain at Borussia Dortmund (via MailOnline’s Ian Ladyman). Ladyman reports comments from Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc, who spoke to Kicker: “It made sense that Mats was thinking about his future, but I always pointed out that we plan (for the future) with him.”

Football writer Sam Pilger expressed his thoughts on Twitter:

Zorc confirms he met with the player and his father, with all three confirming a “common consensus” that he will remain at the Westfalenstadion next season, per Kicker (via Agence France-Presse on Yahoo). B/R UK’s Sam Tighe recently looked at alternatives to the powerful German defender:

United boss Louis van Gaal will likely have a number of top-class signings on his wish list. He has completed phase one of his mission—returning the club to the Champions League—but needs investment to turn them into genuine title-contenders.

Players such as Otamendi, who have proved their quality and are in peak form, could make all the difference.

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