Barca defender Pique linked with Manchester United return

Manchester United will attempt to strengthen their defensive options in January with a bid to bring former player Gerard Pique back to Old Trafford.

According to AS, Louis van Gaal has targeted a move for the Barcelona star as the Dutchman looks to add a world class defender to his squad.

And Pique, who has so far failed to dislodge either Javier Mascherano or Jeremy Mathieu from Luis Enrique’s starting line-up, could fit the bill for the Red Devils.

The Spanish international spent four years with United after Sir Alex Ferguson spotted his talent at the Barcelona youth academy.

But after making just 12 appearances for the first team he moved back to the Catalan giants in 2008 for a bargain £5m.

Pique has made 269 appearances for his home-town club, winning four La Liga titles, two Copa Del Reys and two Champions League trophies but this season under new manager Enrique he has failed to make an impact.

LVG is keeping tabs on the 27-year-old’s situation at the Nou Camp and with the defender, whose place in the Spanish national team is under threat, wanting game time he could be tempted back to Manchester.

United have endured a mixed start to the campaign and while their forward line-up of Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney is capable of scoring against any team in the world their defensive options leave a lot to be desired.

Van Gaal’s men are out to 16/1 to win the title after their 5-3 defeat at the hands of newly promoted Leicester City, while they are still odds-on at 7/10 with Ladbrokes to finish in the top four.

Any possible arrival of Pique would certainly strengthen their bid for success this season but by January the damage could already have been done.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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