All the hype that surrounded Louis van Gaal’s appointment as Manchester United manager failed to match the actual result, as the Red Devils suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of Swansea City in their opening game of the Premier League campaign.
In an utterly listless display which contradicted the enthusiasm among the fans at the start of the game, United were simply woeful and the match was a cruel reminder to the Red Devils’ faithful that the arrival of Van Gaal does not automatically solve their deep rooted problems, which troubled them throughout last season.
Van Gaal’s first game in charge as United manager was a disaster
However, the defeat to Swansea may well come as a blessing in disguise, as it has now been reported that Louis van Gaal has accelerated his pursuit of facilitating the arrival of a couple of world class players in the next couple of days.
Among the areas which require strengthening for Manchester United – reinforcing the central defensive position seems of primary importance for United and according to the usually reliable sources at Sky Sports, it can be revealed that the Red Devils are on the verge of completing the signing of Roma superstar Mehdi Benatia.
Van Gaal has been a long term admirer of Benatia and it is believed that United have been able to agree to a fee with Italian side Roma for the Moroccan international. The defender is now on his way to England to hold talks with United and if things go according to plan, the move could be finalized within the next few days.
United have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Benatia
Benatia is considered one of the finest defenders plying their trade in Europe, following his magnificent campaign with Roma last season, where he played an integral role in helping the Italian giants to a second place finish in the Serie A.
A tough and uncompromising defender, Benatia is a pillar of strength at the back and contributes at the other end of the pitch as well – having grabbed five goals last season. Therefore, the potential arrival of the 27-year old will be a huge boost for Manchester United and he can certainly go a long way in helping lift the gloom and doom surrounding the club at the moment.
