Sunday, 17th August, 2014
Manchester United face serious opposition in their bid to sign defender Mehdi Benatia from Roma, with Bayern Munich moving quickly to secure his signature.
Louis van Gaal's Manchester United have been strongly linked with bidding for Benatia as they seek to address defensive issues which were ruthlessly exposed during a 2-1 Premier League defeat at home against Swansea City yesterday.
But according to multiple sources in Germany, Bayern Munich are also pressing the accelerator on their admiration for the Moroccan.
Roma are hoping to keep hold of Benatia, who still has four years left to run on his contract in the Italian capital, but have privately admitted a bid in excess of €35m could turn their head.
Bayern Munich had declared their summer transfer market over, but reassessed following a year-ending injury to Javi Martinez suffered in the German Supercup in midweek.
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"Yes [another buy has been approved]", the club's technical director admitted.
"It is in our hands and we know we must do something."
Now the German champions are once again on the lookout to add another player and Benatia appears to be their preferred option.
Roma only signed Benatia last year, swooping to snap up the 27-year-old from fellow Serie A outfit Udinese, the defender then proving to be a key man in the Giallorossi's second place finish in 2013/14.
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