Manchester United target Nicolas Otamendi indicates strong desire for summer move

Manchester United target Nicolas Otamendi has admitted that he is looking for a move away from current employers Valencia during the summer transfer window.

The Argentina internationsl's agent Eugenio Lopez has already made it clear that his client wants to leave Spain and was only waiting for an offer from a top club.

"Jorge Mendes already knows that Nico wants to leave Valencia. Nico will do everything possible to get it, he will do everything possible to leave."

"If there's an offer from a club we consider a top club, and it benefits his family, Nico wants to go," Otamendi's agent said.

Louis van Gaal has made strengthening his defence a priority this summer and has been linked with various centre-backs from across Europe with his primary target being Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels, but with the defender looking increasingly likely to remain with the Bundesliga club, the Red Devils have turned their attention to the Valencia star.

Otamendi, who is currently with his national team at the Copa America, has confirmed the statements made by his agent earlier in the month and admitted that he has met with the club's president and made clear his intentions for the summer.

"I spoke at the time with who I had to talk to and Valencia know very well what I want. Each word that my representative says is with my authorization," Otamendi is quoted as saying by Goal.

"I had a chat with the president and he knows what my desire is and now I leave what has to happen in the hands of my agent," the Argentine defender added.

Reports earlier in the month suggested that the La Liga club are willing to sell the defender during the summer transfer window, but are adamant that interested clubs meet their valuation of the player, which is set at £36m ($57.1m).

Otamendi is said to be desperate to join the Old Trafford clubs and has already informed his friends regarding his desire and has instructed his representatives to engineer the move to England, according to the Mirror.

However, Van Gaal is reportedly reluctant to spend such a huge figure on a player, who is not his first choice to fill the void left by the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic last summer.