Respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has claimed that Manchester United have failed in a £27m move for Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi.

The Argentine defender joined Valencia from Porto this summer and has been one of the standout performers in La Liga this season.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with a number of defenders this month, but according to Balague, Otamendi is their top target.

It is understood that the Premier League outfit made an offer in the region of £27m to the Spanish club, but that was rejected outright.

Otamendi, 26, has 18 international caps to his name.