United’s captain and first-choice centre-back Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for several weeks with a knee injury and subsequent surgery.
Not only are the Red Devils missing their skipper but also his prospective replacements in Chris Smalling and Phil Jones due to foot and knee injuries, respectively.
Smalling is now back in training and in the meantime Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans are holding the fort but for a team with high ambitions for both the Premier League and Champion’s League, Ferguson must re-enforce in January.
Meanwhile Vidic’s young compatriot Neven Subotic has been receiving the accolades for his stellar performances for German champions Borussia Dortmund who have won two successive Bundesliga titles.
The Serbian international has been compared to his elder for many years due to his dominance and conviction in the back line for both club and country.
The 23-year-old won’t come cheap though – Dortmund boss Jürgen Klopp has stated he has no intention of selling his centre-back but the possibility of a move to the Premier League to join his former Dortmund teammate Shinji Kagawa may prove to be a devastating allure, from the Germans’ perspective.
It is thought Ferguson could secure the Serbians’ services for a price around the £16million mark. A report has claimed United are lining up a bid for the centre-back. For a club wounded by the loss of the Premier League title to their archrivals last season, it would be a huge oversight to see out the remainder of this season without more adequate defensive cover.
Other rumours have circulated that the Red Devils may opt for Paris Saint-Germain defender Diego Lugano who, at 31 years of age could add experienced cover to the United dressing room.
His advancing years would also shave a hefty chunk off his transfer fee which is likely to fall around £1million – PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti already has a wealth of centre-back talent in Thiago Silva, Mamadou Sakho, Alex, and Zoumana Camara.
It depends of whether Sir Alex still has cash in the kitty after expensive summer signings of Robin van Persie and Kagawa and whether he goes for the long-term solution that Subotic offers or the short-term quick of Diego Lugano.
Could United sign Subotic? Would you be happy with Lugano?
image: © wuestenigel
Jenny Leigh
@backpagenewsmore stories from Jenny Leigh
Jennifer is a freelance writer and filmmaker from London with a great passion for football - the game, the business, and the culture. Jennifer hopes to provide readership with a high standard of news, analysis, and opinion over a range of football events, stories, and issues.
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