Manchester United are considering a player plus cash deal for Atletico Madrid defender João Miranda. Manager Louis Van Gaal wants to add quality and experience at the back in the next transfer window and the Brazilian could be target in January.
Atletico Madrid want close to £24m for the 30-year old defender and Van Gaal could add Juan Mata in the deal to convince Simeone to part ways with the experienced defender. United were linked with the likes of Eliaquim Mangala, Mats Hummels and Mehdi Benatia during the summer, but a move failed to materialize. Van Gaal will now turn his attention to the Brazilian who might get tempted to play in the Premier League with the added bonus of higher wages.
United’s defence has been really shaky so far and the addition of Miranda in January will be welcomed by most of the United fans as he was instrumental in Atletico’s league winning campaign last season. Miranda and Godin forged a formidable partnership in the defence that was the best in the league. Atletico fell just short of winning the Champions League.
He decided to stay with Atleti during the summer despite the fact that the club were willing to listen to offers for him. Atletico have lost a host of players after winning the League last season and unless a strong offer comes in for Miranda, Simeone will not want to sell he defender for cheap.
Miranda has all the qualities of a Premier League defender as he is quick, can chip in with a goal or two and is a solid tackler when it comes to last ditch defending. He has made 95 appearances for Atletico Madrid after joining from Sao Paulo in 2011 and is at the peak of his career right now. A move to Manchester United will also depend on how well they are placed in the league come January, so he’ll have plenty of time to decide on whether he wants to stay or move.