Manchester United might be about to welcome one Argentina international as they say goodbye to another, as reports suggest Louis van Gaal is chasing Nicolas Otamendi and that Angel Di Maria will leave for Paris Saint-Germain.

Rob Draper of the Mail On Sunday writes that United will seek to obtain Otamendi’s signature from Spanish club Valencia in the coming weeks and that the Red Devils will be forced to activate the defender’s £36 million buy-out clause to get it.

Otamendi is represented by Jorge Mendes, who has had multiple dealings with United in recent times. 

United are in the market for an alternative centre-back after the news that reported top target Mats Hummels is likely to stay with current club Borussia Dortmund.

BVB sporting director Michael Zorc has spoken publicly about retaining Hummels for next season, saying to German football magazine Kicker there is now a “clear consensus” the defender will remain in Dortmund, relayed by Sky Sports. 

Zorc continued: “It made sense that Mats was thinking about his future, but I always pointed out that we plan [for the future] with him.”

Otamendi is considered one of La Liga’s toughest exponents and would give United the steel missing since the departure of Nemanja Vidic to Inter Milan.

However, the player is equally as dangerous in the attacking third of the park, scoring on a regular basis in the Primera Division.

Otamendi is the league’s top-scoring centre-back, with six goals during the recent campaign, per WhoScored.com, and he would give United an exceptional option from set pieces. 

BeIN Sports’ David Cartlidge highlighted this fact on Saturday as Otamendi once again scored for his club, calling the player “ruthless” when attacking the ball:

 

Di Maria Seeks Parisian Escape

As LvG potentially brings in one Argentinian in Otamendi, it appears compatriot Angel Di Maria could be about to leave the Red Devils and join PSG. 

Sean Kearns of Metro cites the Sun’s claims that PSG will attempt to bring the former Galactico to Ligue 1 on loan before completing a £50 million transfer for the attacker.

Di Maria’s first season at Old Trafford has been riddled with injury and bad form. His personal life was also affected when his property was broken into, prompting the player to put his house up for sale, per the Guardian.

The mercurial attacker has not looked happy in a United shirt at any point in the second half of the season, and a move away from Old Trafford would not surprise fans.

The winger has started just 20 Premier League games this term, per WhoScored.com, falling behind Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young in the pecking order. However, he has produced a credible return of 10 assists during the campaign—a good set of figures, considering his lack of games. 

Despite the PSG loan rumours, Sky Sports’ Gary Neville has spoken out in favour of Di Maria, professing he “believes” in the Argentina international:

Actually, I believe in [Angel] Di Maria as a player. We’ve watched him a lot for Real Madrid and you could see his level of performance was outstanding. That’s not happened this season and you’re thinking Ashley Young has done better this season, [Maraoune] Fellaini’s been better, Mata’s done better.

Considering ADM is United’s record signing, Van Gaal will want a bigger return from his investment. If the veteran Dutch coach does not think he will get this after training the player for a year, he is likely to cut his losses and recoup some of the money outlayed, especially with the imminent arrival of Memphis Depay.

Otamendi would be an excellent addition to United’s defensive ranks, especially if United lose David De Gea to Real Madrid, per Izzy Horsefield of the Express.

He is a powerhouse who would love the challenge of the Premier League, and if he were to perform at the level he did for Los Che at Old Trafford, United fans would worship him as they did Vidic.

However, £36 million appears steep as a transfer fee, and with the player entering his late 20s, it would be a gamble to pay such a high price, as there would be little sell-on value if the move doesn’t work out.

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