Manchester United planning shock £20m bid for former star Gerard Pique

Posted Tuesday, October 21, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

MANCHESTER United are plotting a shock £20m bid for former star Gerard Pique.

Manchester United planning shock £20m bid for former star Gerard Pique
SHOCK BID: Could Gerard Pique be heading back to Manchester United?

United boss Louis Van Gaal is still desperate to sign defensive re-enforcements and has put Barcelona's Pique at the top of his wanted list.

Van Gaal has been told he has more funds to spend in the next transfer window and has made a centre back his priority.

Pique, 27, has stated his desire to remain at the Nou Camp, but United bosses are confident of being able to lure him back to Old Trafford.

Pique joined United from Barca in 2004 and spent four seasons with the fallen giants.

He made just 12 league appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson and was sent to Real Zaragoza on a season-long loan in 2006.

He returned to United but was sold back to Barca for just £5m in 2008 and went on to establish himself at the Spanish giants.

Alongside former captain Carles Puyol, Pique has helped Barca win four La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies.

But Pique has fallen down the pecking order this season since Luis Enrique took charge as Barca boss.

He has made just five league appearances, with Enrique picking both Jeremy Mathieu and Javier Mascherano ahead of him.

Pique would be guaranteed his place at United, where Van Gaal is attempting to rebuild a team capable of getting the club back to the top of the game.

The Spanish international is dating Colombian pop singer Shakira and this could prove a possible stumbling block for United.

It is understood she is reluctant to move to Manchester, which means United bosses will have to hand Pique a bumper deal in order to prize him out of the Nou Camp.

In a recent interview he said: "You never know what the future holds, but right now, I love this city, I love the people in the club, and most importantly, I love the institution. I don't see myself leaving."

United's defence has been found wanting this season, despite the summer signings of Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo.

Van Gaal doubts if the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are up to the required standard.

A club source told Starsport: "The manager knows he still needs to strengthen his defence and he would love to sign Pique.

"He is a former United player so he knows the club and Pique is a player he can build his defence around. Signing him from Barcelona won't be easy though."