Man Utd hopes to get Gianluca Mancini, a defender for Roma.

Gianluca Mancini, a defender for Roma, is a target for Manchester United in January.

The 27-year-old, who has started every game for the Serie A powerhouses this season under manager Jose Mourinho, has been a vital member of their central defense. Mancini has been identified as the ideal candidate, according to Il Romanista, who also notes that Man United is looking for a dependable center defender to support Raphael Varane.

According to the Italian source, his current net worth is £18 million, which United could easily finance. However, Roma’s owners, the Friedkin family, need at least £9 million to £13 million more before considering letting him leave for the winter.

Proven defender

Mancini is in his fifth season at Roma right now. He has been a constant in the Giallorossi starting lineup and has frequently donned the captain’s armband this season while Lorenzo Pellegrini has been sidelined due to injury. Manager Erik ten Hag may have taken notice of Mancini’s display of leadership qualities.

Like Varane, the Italian’s style of play is centered on his ability to focus; he is not a particularly strong tackler. He enjoys using his physical presence to win duels and is proficient with the ball at his feet. Although United’s interest is unexpected, they may view him as Varane’s successor at the team in the near future.

Ten Hag has been favoring Harry Maguire, who wasn’t too long ago out of favor, and the Frenchman has been a bench player in recent weeks, showing indications of slowing down in the current campaign. This is a clear indication that Varane’s boss no longer thinks highly of him, and he may look to take on a new challenge in January.

United might be planning a move to Saudi Arabia, which would enable them to reinvest the money they received for Pellegrini. Midway through the season, Roma manager Jose Mourinho would be hesitant to part with his prized asset, but if their asking price is fulfilled, Roma is unlikely to block his departure.