United keen on Pique return

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is ready to make a £20m bid to bring Gerard Pique back to Old Trafford, according to the Express.

The Spain international swapped Manchester for Catalonia four years ago having played just twenty-three times under former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, though he was part of the squad that won the Premier League and Champions League in 2007/08.

Since moving to La Liga, the defender has won several major honours including four league titles, two Copa del Reys and two Champions Leagues while internationally, he won the 2012 World Cup in South Africa and the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine two years later.

Van Gaal looks set to make signing a defender his priority when the transfer window reopens in January, with his side shipping no less than twelve goals in their opening eight league games of the season, including two in last night’s draw with West Bromwich Albion.