Thursday, 16th October, 2014
Manchester United are ready to launch a swoop for Aston Villa’s Dutch international defender Ron Vlaar in January, according to Dutch outlet Soccer News.
Louis van Gaal is keen to add an experienced central defender to the Manchester United squad to add strength and depth as the team have suffered this season due to injuries to key senior defenders; the Dutchman has been forced to field inexperienced defenders from the youth squad.
Vlaar was the senior most defender in Van Gaal’s Holland squad that finished third in this summer’s World Cup and the Manchester United manager was impressed with the way the 29-year-old led an inexperienced Dutch defence during the tournament.
The central defender attracted interest from the Italian duo of Lazio and Juventus in the summer and even Arsenal are believed to be keen on the 29-year-old.
With only one year left on his contract, it is believed Aston Villa are ready to bite the bullet and agree a €10m deal with the Red Devils.
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Van Gaal will be keen to ratify the deal as soon as the winter transfer window opens to ward off interest from other clubs and bring his compatriot to Old Trafford.
Vlaar has made 68 appearances for Aston Villa since joining them in 2012 from Feyenoord and is currently nursing a calf injury.
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