United oped Dias talks, Juventus ahead

Manchester United have entered the negotiations to sign Ruben Dias from Benfica, according to Portuguese outlet Record (via the Mirror).

Benfica apparently won’t be letting the defender go for anything less than the amount set in the buyout clause of his contract, so whoever intends to acquire his services will have to part with €60 million. Should United prove serious in their attention to land the 21-year-old, they will also have to acct quickly, because it is “understood” that Juventus have reached an advanced stage of the talks and are in pole position to sign him.

The Red Devils have been searching for a central defender for several transfer windows now, and their recent failures include Harry Maguie of Leicester and Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur. At 21, Dias would represent a different kind of signing, more of a long-term investment than a quick-fix solution in the form of a proven defensive leader.