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Man United beating Arsenal to sign this €20m Serie A star is an absolute no-brainer

Why Manchester United should hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of Medhi Benatia

According to a report from Daily Star, Arsenal are eyeing a January swoop for Juventus defender Medhi Benatia.

Medhi Benatia, 31, has been outstanding this year, helping Juventus to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season and winning their seventh consecutive Serie A title. However, the Moroccan has made just six appearances this season for the Turin giants as Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are ahead of him in the pecking order.

As per Calciomercato, Juventus are planning to offload Medhi Benatia in January and have set a €20m price-tag for the defender. Available at a bargain price, Manchester United should surely hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of the Juventus centre-back.

Medhi Benatia

Manchester United are looking to recruit a new central defender during the January transfer window after failing to sign one in the summer. The Red Devils have been defensively all over the place this term, conceding 21 goals in just 12 games.

Jose Mourinho needs to address his defensive problems by bringing in a top central defender and Medhi Benatia fits the bill perfectly.

Benatia had a wonderful last season at Turin, delivering consistent displays at the back alongside Chiellini. Bonucci’s return from AC Milan has seen Benatia lose his place in the Juventus starting XI under Max Allegri this term.

The Morocco international is one of the best central defenders in European football. Benatia is a ball-playing defender who can be a dominating figure at both ends of the pitch. His aerial prowess and game reading skills help him keep the opposition attackers at bay. He has a sound technique and is good with the ball at his feet, helping him initiate attacks from the back.

Benatia is strong in the air and powerful in the tackle but he can mistime challenges and concede cheap fouls at times. But overall, he is an aggressive and agile central defender who would bring in a winning mentality to Manchester United.

The 31-year-old former AS Roma and Bayern Munich ace is also a top man-marker and a fantastic organizer of the defence, which is something Mourinho’s backline desperately lacks.

Read more: Man United beating Chelsea to sign this Serie A star would solve Mourinho’s defensive crisis

There is no doubt that Benatia will improve the Red Devils’ backline significantly. Valued at just €20m, the Moroccan would be a coup for Manchester United and make a massive difference in their backline, which has leaked goals at an alarming rate so far this campaign.