Confirmed – Manchester United Commerce Talks To Sign CB

Manchester United’s search for a central defender have continued and manager Louis Van Gaal has identified Brazilian and Sporting Lisbon defender Mauriciodos Santos Nascimento as the the right man to take the position of departed Nemanja Vidic.

The 26-year-old Sporting defender has claimed that a contact has been made by United gaffer but no offer yet. Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has inquired about the player’s availability and could yet make an offer for the player who joined Sporting CP in the summer of 2013.

’They [Manchester United] sought my manager, Carlos Goncalves,’’ Nascimento said to Brazilian media.

“But I am centred, focused and a very calm person. It was not a certain thing. Here at Sporting, people like me very much and I am very happy.”

Mauriciodos Santos Nascimento joined Sporting clube de Portugal from Brazilian side Sport Clube do Recife. He has gone on to make 28 appearances for the club in all competition and scored on league goal. He was part of the Sporting line up that faced fellow premier league team Chelsea in Uefa champions league match earlier in September partnering senegalese Mouhamadou-Naby Sarr in the heart of Sporting defence.

Manchester United have been in search of a central defender after the summer departure of duo Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand to Inter Milan and QPR respectively.

The likes of Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, and Phil Jones have looked to struggle under the new Van Gaal 3-5-3 system and injuries to the trio means the manager has featured rookies Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair in the heart of United’s defence this season. The injury situation has also gone worse with McNair picking up an ankle injury which will rule him out for up to three weeks.

With the injuries and some of the players no adapting to his preferred three-man defence, Louis Van Gaal has started making plans on how to overhaul the entire defence line.

Manchester United have also been linked to lots of other defenders with Dutch and Aston Villa centre back Ron Vlaar, and German Mat Hummels all in the manager’s wish list.

Mauriciodos Santos Nascimento will be an upgrade to the United defence. A really quick player who can also tackle hard and marshal his line well as seen in the Sporting CP game against Chelsea. He will be a good signing for United if any deal happens in the nearest future.

There is great need to address the defensive woes at Manchester United as the team looks susceptible at the back conceding goals from counters and set pieces. Mauriciodos will bring a lot of physicality to the United defence which is currently lacking in the side. The light weight nature of the defence has made opposition teams bully United especially from set pieces. Mauriciodos’ height of 6ft1″ would be of great benefit to the side as it gives the team advantage aerially.

Manchester United have not gotten off the season in a fine start but they have started picking up the points with two consecutive wins against West Ham United and Everton which have seen them move up to fourth on the log and manager Louis Van Gaal will look to continue from where he left off after the international break with a game away to West Bromwich Albion.