£24million Mehdi Benatia switches his attention to Bayern Munich? The news was broken late on Saturday evening that Manchester United were in pursuit of the 27-year-old Roma centre-back by Jim White of Sky Sports News and that Louis van Gaal is willing to pay the asking fee of £24million the Serie A capital side were demanding.
Benatia joined the Rome giants at the beginning of last summer from Udinese, helping the capital side reach 2nd place in Serie A last season.
It was even reported that Benatia was en-route to finalise a deal and supposedly undergo a medical in Manchester on Sunday. Reports and rumours that at this time, are far from the truth.
However as things on this latest transfer wrangle hot up, it appears Pep Guardiolas Bayern Munich side have now been linked into the chase for the 27-year-old.
Munchen have recently suffered an injury blow to Javi Martinez one of the key centre backs at the Allianz Arena. Reports are circulating in Germany through respected newspaper Sport Bild that Benatia will be one of Bayern Munich’s principle targets in this summers transfer window, which closes in Britain at 23.00 BST on the 1st of September.
Benatia has also been linked with Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City so far this summer. This would be another significant blow for Manchester United if they lose this player, as many Reds believed he was one of the best central defenders in Europe and apparently available.
Clearly with Guardiola’s team being able to offer Champions League football this campaign the thought of Munich further strengthening is a frightening prospect. United however have to fill the vacuum by losing Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Alexander Buttner in the rear-guard of the defence.
Roma CEO Italo Zanzi has however dismissed the rumours stating that “There is no truth in the rumours that Benatia is bound for the exit door at the Olmpic, Mehdi is our player. “It’s a shame about all these rumours that Benatia is bound for the exit door. “According to some media sources he has already been sold, but instead he is training with us in a very professional manner.” It’s a shame about all these rumours. He is a great person and is behaving in the best possible way. The transfer market is dynamic and until September 1 we will evaluate every opportunity and ensure we are ready [for the new season].”
This weakness in the Red Devils defensive structure of the team requires attention sooner rather than later, with urgent high quality additions of 2-3 high top-class defenders as all United supporters are aware.
Do you think Manchester United will sign Mehdi Benatia or is this another wild goose chase the club are being sent on by journalists and Guardiola will gazump United as he did with Thiago Alcantara last summer?
Give United sometime to complete the medical and deal man. The rumour has just picked-up less than 24 hours ago and the media has already believed that united have missed out on Benatia. Tonight,sky sports transfer news are reporting “United are awaiting for Mehdi to reach England for talks.” On the other hand Bayern have rejected claims that Roma officials are in Germany to discuss the deal!