Five signings to replace Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United

He may be the club captain, but at 30, age is not on his side. Nobody can argue his importance to Manchester United, as illustrated at the weekend, but could Sir Alex Ferguson elect to take the ultimate gamble and cash in on the defender next summer?

With his age and injury record it has some merit, if the club were able to spend the money on a younger world class replacement.

Here is a look at five players they could attempt to replace him with...

1) Neven Subotic

Subotic is the first of three Bundesliga defenders in this list, and is Vidic's international teammate with Serbia. Subotic is seven years younger at 23, and currently plays for German champions Borussia Dortmund, who sold Shinji Kagawa to United last summer. He is likely to cost in the region of £25 million. He was linked with the club early in the summer, and has previously been a target for Chelsea. It wasn't so long ago he was dubbed ''The new Nemanja Vidic" so it would be somewhat fitting if he did end up replacing the United captain.

2) Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Papadopoulos is one of Europe's most highly rated young prospects. He became the youngest ever player to play in the Greek league when he was handed his debut for Olympiakos at just 15. He was linked with United before he signed with Schalke in 2010 and has gone onto play more than 80 times for the Germans. He put in a superb performance for Greece agains Russia at Euro 2012 this summer, which highlighted his excellent progression. Now 20, he is an outstanding prospect for the future, and AC Milan made an attempt to sign him this summer as a replacement for Thiago Silva, but were reported to FIFA by Schalke for an alleged illegal approach. He will feature against Arsenal twice in the Champions League over the next month.

3) Giorgio Chiellini

Chiellini is a defender who is every bit as uncompromising in style as Nemanja Vidic. He is the cornerstone of the Juventus side, but has previously been linked with taking up a new challenge at either Barcelona or United's rivals Manchester City. Counting against him is the fact he is 29, just one year younger than Vidic, but he is not hampered by the knee injury which has cost the Serbian almost a year of his career so far and placed it under doubt. Juventus could be tempted into an exchange deal if United were ambitious enough.

4) Mats Hummels

Mats Hummels is arguably the best up and coming defender in the world, and is the partner of Subotic at Dortmund. United would have a tough job persuading the German champions to let the 23-year-old go, but he would be worth every penny of a blockbuster transfer deal. He featured for Germany at Euro 2012 where he impressed, and Bayern Munich are currently kicking themselves for allowing the defender to leave the club to their title rivals in 2009 for just four million Euros. Counting further against a transfer deal is his contract, which runs until 2017.

5) Dede

Brazilian centre-back Dede has been dubbed the best defender in South America, and was linked with United early in the summer. The 24-year-old is a Brazil international and plays for Vasco da Gama. He has a contract until 2015, and has been likened to Rio Ferdinand for his athletic and composed style. The defender also scored six goals for his club last season, and would be an exciting selection from United, and would line up alongside fellow compatriot Rafael in the club's defence.

If United were to let Vidic, or Ferdinand, go, who would you like to see brought in as a replacement?

image: © nasmac