Man Utd set to solve defensive woe with hot-property French centre half

Eliaquim Mangala has been long linked with a switch to the Premier League, with a host of the nation’s elite reportedly keen on the French international.

Manchester United’s interest in the player has only emerged following his performances in the first half of the campaign, with Chelsea being the leading English horse in the continent-wide race for his signature, but it now appears as though the Red Devils are heading up the chase.

With David Moyes supposedly holding the keys to a £200m transfer war chest, the £15m it’ll allegedly require to acquire to the 22-year-old’s services will be regarded as a drop in their vast, green ocean.

Central defensive reinforcement is an act the champions must partake in if they are to improve their top-four finish credentials, which are currently rated at unfathomable (based on reputation, not form) odds of 13/8.

The fact that 35-year-old Rio Ferdinand, a player whose halcyon days are a long way behind him, remains a key part of their backline, alongside young players like Chris Smalling and Phil Jones – both talented, but frequently not trusted to play at centre half under the previous regime – can be cited as a major factor in their defensive headaches this term.

United have shipped 24 league goals so far, Tottenham are the only side in the current top seven to concede more, and they leaked 11 in two freak games with Manchester City and Liverpool.

Mangala’s raw physicality will inject an extra element into the United defensive unit, with the combination of pace and immense strength something notably absent from their current rearguard roster.

Improving their attacking fortunes must be priority number one for Moyes in his next foray into the transfer market, but if the money is there he would be foolish to allow Mangala to slip through the net.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date

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