Valencia have reportedly rebuffed an approach by Manchester United for Argentine defender, Nicolás Otamendi by stating that his €50 million buyout clause will need to be met.

The Mirror has reported that Otamendi has been ear marked as a possible January signing as Louis van Gaal seeks to strengthen Manchester United’s fragile defence but Valencia are obviously keen to hold on to their €12 million signing from Porto last January.

The 26-year-old defender only made his debut for Los Che at the start of this season having gone out on loan to Atlético Miniero in Brazil for the remainder of the season after signing. However, this season he has formed an impressive partnership with Ruben Vezo as Valencia took an early season lead at the top of La Liga.

Otamendi has also been recalled to the Argentina squad by Gerardo Martino for the forthcoming friendlies in China and Hong Kong and is certainly one of the options to partner Ezequiel Garay in the long term for La Selección.

However, even taking into account Manchester United’s loosened purse strings since van Gaal took charge, €50 million would probably prove too much. Despite standing only 6 feet tall, Otamendi is an excellent centre half, comfortable enough on the ball to even cover at full back, as Maradona deployed him during the World Cup in South Africa.

This combination of defensive stability and ability with the ball would make him an ideal van Gaal type defender but at the price, United will be hoping they can find better value in the market.

Having signed a five-year-deal with Valencia less than a year ago, and Los Che now in a far better financial situation than they were some years ago, the La Liga outfit are in no rush to open negotiations.