Manchester United pondering summer move for Tottenham defender Kyle Walker

Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a summer move for Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker as an alternative to Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne.

According to the Mirror, Louis van Gaal has made strengthening his right full-back position a priority and is keen on landing one of the two English defenders at the end of the current campaign.

The Spurs defender, who has just returned from a 10-month spell on the sidelines due to a pelvis injury, has shown remarkable recovery and has at times displayed the form that made him a regular starter for club and country.

The Dutchman is desperate to strengthen his defence that has been struggling this season due to the injuries sustained by senior defenders at the club. Apart from the England duo, the manager has also been linked with moves for Everton's Seamus Coleman and Barcelona defender Dani Alves, who will be a free agent in the summer.

However, the report claims that the United manager wants to sign someone younger and also a player who is comfortable playing in either the 4-4-2 or the 3-5-2 formations.

Walker is contracted to the north London club for the next four years and will be considerably more expensive than Clyne, who will be entering the final year of his contract with the Saints at the end of the current campaign.

The Southampton defender was high on Van Gaal's wish-list during the recently concluded January transfer window, but it is believed that the manager has now shifted focus to the Tottenham defender following his impressive comeback.

This will be music to the ears of the Southampton hierarchy since they are keen to hold on to the talented defender, who earned his first England cap last year.

Saints chairman Ralph Krueger is hoping that Clyne signs a new contract and remains with the club, as he feels that St Mary's is the best place for a player to develop and reach his full potential.

"I can not imagine a better place than this to allow play to players who have not yet expressed their potential. I am sure that eventually he wants to remain at Southampton," Krueger said, as quoted by Tutto Mercato Web.