Man Utd starts negotiations to sign a defender. but will have to act quickly

Manchester United has already opened negotiations for Ruben Dias – but may miss Juventus in its attempt to land the defender.

According to the Portuguese newspaper Record, the Red Devils have started negotiations with Benfica about a transfer for the highly rated 21-year-old.

But Juventus would be in "top position" to acquire its services after reaching a more advanced stage of negotiation than United.

It is understood that Benfica will ask the clubs to pay the € 60 million release clause in the Dias contract to sell one of their valuable badets.

United will now have to intensify its efforts and speed up the process, otherwise it could see him accepting a move to Italy.

Atletico Madrid has also been badociated with Dias, but it is said that they would be more focused on landing the Porto Felipe defender.

Dias is not the only Portuguese star sought after by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the summer.

His teammate Joao Felix of Benfica is also on their radar, although the prodigy is sought after by almost all the top European clubs after his sensational season.

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes is also a priority target for United as Solskjaer seeks to rebuild his team.

But central defense has long been a priority for United, Dias being one of the top priorities in their attempt to tighten back.

Kalidou Koulibaly and Milan Skriniar have long been targets, but it seems unlikely that they leave Inter and Milan respectively. The young player of Ajax, Matthijs De Ligt, would be on the point of joining Barcelona with Juventus.