Man Utd: stressed Van Gaal eyes Otamendi and Hummels

Old Trafford boss wants more reinforcements at the back as he admits that job is his biggest test

Nicolas Otamendi
(Image credit: Michael Regan/Getty)

On the day when Louis van Gaal admitted he was facing probably the toughest time of his illustrious managerial career, the Daily Star reports that Manchester United are "weighing up" a possible bid for Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi. With the Red Devils defence failing to purr so far this season Van Gaal is reportedly targeting the 26-year-old Otamendi as one of his first new year buys. Though he only joined Valencia last February from Portuguese giants FC Porto, the Argentina defender is believed to be up for sale having been loaned out recently to Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro.

The Star says Van Gaal hasn't yet given up hope of prising centre-back Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund but he believes his back four needs bolstering with more than just one new face.

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Bill Mann is a football correspondent for The Week.co.uk, scouring the world's football press daily for the popular Transfer Talk column.