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MANCHESTER UNITED have launched a £24m bid to beat Chelsea, Manchester City and Bayern Munich to the signing of Roma defender Mehdi Benatia.
Reports yesterday suggested that Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini had flown to London to hold talks with Chelsea over a move.
But fresh reports coming out of Italy this morning suggest that Sabatini may also have held talks with United.
Indeed, it is suggested that the Red Devils have slapped £24m on the table in the hope of persuading Roma to sell.
Roma are thought to want closer to £30m - a figure that City reportedly offered two months ago - to part with Benatia but have admitted the Moroccan international could leave before the end of the transfer window.
Louis Van Gaal is in desperate need of more central defenders for his new 3-5-2 formation after being forced to name Tyler Blackett to face Swansea in the Premier League opener.
And while Mats Hummels remains Van Gaal's ideal candidate Benatia could prove a move available option.
It now remains to be seen whether United have any more luck - with a lower bid - than City did, with the player's agent believed to have vetoed a move to the Citizens earlier this summer.
Reports yesterday suggested that Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini had flown to London to hold talks with Chelsea over a move.
But fresh reports coming out of Italy this morning suggest that Sabatini may also have held talks with United.
Indeed, it is suggested that the Red Devils have slapped £24m on the table in the hope of persuading Roma to sell.
Roma are thought to want closer to £30m - a figure that City reportedly offered two months ago - to part with Benatia but have admitted the Moroccan international could leave before the end of the transfer window.
Louis Van Gaal is in desperate need of more central defenders for his new 3-5-2 formation after being forced to name Tyler Blackett to face Swansea in the Premier League opener.
And while Mats Hummels remains Van Gaal's ideal candidate Benatia could prove a move available option.
It now remains to be seen whether United have any more luck - with a lower bid - than City did, with the player's agent believed to have vetoed a move to the Citizens earlier this summer.