Manchester United Transfer Rumors: Garay Set to Join United in the Summer as Ferdinand's Replacement

Jan 24, 2013 02:33 AM EST

Manchester United are set to agree a deal with Benfica over a summer transfer for Ezequiel Garay.

United are keen to add to their central defense next season, with Rio Ferdinand expected to leave, and the injury problems of Nemanja Vidic a constant concern.

Garay has been in brilliant form for Benfica over the past couple of seasons, and United scouts have watched the former Real Madrid man on several occasions over the past few months.

Sir Alex Ferguson, impressed by the reports, has moved in to seal the deal for the summer, offering Benfica €15 million (£12.6 million, $20 million), according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

The Portuguese side are expected to ask for nearly double that amount, with Real Madrid entitled to a cut from the transfer as a result of the agreement made in 2011 when Benfica signed him from the Spanish giants.

While a fee has not been agreed yet, it is understood United are confident of sealing the signing sooner rather than later, with a compromise fee expected to be arranged for the Argentine international.

United have also been heavily linked with a move for Benfica wide man Nicolas Gaitan and a double raid in the summer is looking increasingly likely.

Meanwhile, Tom Cleverley has stated his desire to see his team win the F.A. Cup for the first time in nine years.

"United haven't won the FA Cup for quite a while now," Cleverley told the club's official website. "The last time was in 2004, and it's definitely a trophy I want to win.

"It means a lot. In fact, we've got a few players in the squad who haven't won anything (major) in this country as yet, including myself, so anything we're involved in I want to win."

Cleverley also reminisced on the famous Ryan Giggs slaloming run and goal against Arsenal in the 1999 F.A. Cup semifinal.

"The FA Cup memory that sticks out from when I was growing up has got to be Ryan Giggs' goal against Arsenal," he said. "I can't recall everything about the FA Cup run that year, because I was only nine years old, but I remember that game well.

"United were down to 10 men, Beckham scored and then Giggsy got that unbelievable winner."

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