Manchester United Prepare January Move for Nicolas Gaitan as Benfica Slash Prices

Manchester United have received a massive boost in their pursuit of Benfica playmaker Nicolas Gaitan, with the Portuguese club willing to reconsider their valuation for the player, according to the Daily Mirror.

The midfielder has a release clause worth £36m but Benfica will be listening to offers close to £28m in order to encourage United to make a move. The Red Devils have spent over £150m in the transfer market last summer under the surveillance of Louis van Gaal but have failed to live up to expectations, forcing the Dutchman to look at other options for a move in January.

Gaitan is being looked at as a replacement for Juan Mata who has failed to establish himself as an asset and is likely to be sold in January to make way for the Argentine. Mata, who was signed under David Moyes, has been in and out of the squad thus far but showed his potential when he scored the winner against Crystal Palace to grant three crucial points to United in the race for the top four.

The Red Devils will face Arsenal after the international break on Saturday where a win will see them trump the Gunners in the league table and take a valiant step towards establishing themselves back in the Champions League.

In the meantime, Mata has not given up hope of impressing his manager and carving his way back into the squad. The Spaniard had been snubbed by Jose Mourinho during his time with Chelsea and does not want a repeat of the same.

"The manager, like in every team, is the one who decides who plays. And what we have to do is what I did against Palace --- seize every opportunity and try to help the team. Luckily on Saturday my goal was worth three points," Mata said.

"It was an explosion of joy because the game was difficult, because we came away from several games without a victory and (the goal) was important. I'm very happy," he added.