Transfer gossip: £25m Argentine ace tempting Man United and Man City

icolas Otamendi is the latest South American to shine in Portugal's Primeira Liga and the Portostopper has reportedly caught Man United and Man City's attention. Here, talkSPORT’s Transfer Spotlight has more on the Argentine…

Name: Nicolas Otamendi
Date of birth: 12 February, 1988
Born: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Position: Central defender
Club: Porto
International: Argentina (15 caps/1 goal)

What’s the latest?
Alongside his Porto team-mate Eliaquim Mangala, centre-back Nicolas Otamendi has become one of Europe’s most sought-after players, with both Manchester United and Manchester Cityreportedly the latest clubs to register their interest in the 25-year-old. While a January bid looks unlikely at the moment, the Premier League pair are rumoured to be monitoring his progress with a view to a summer move. But is he the man to improve their respective backlines?

Did you know?
1) A native of Buenos Aires, Otamendi joined Velez Sarsfield as a seven-year-old, and remained with the club for 12 years, as he progressed through the youth system to become a senior player.

2) Despite turning professional in 2007, it was a whole year before Otamendi made his first team bow for the club, coming in a victory over Rosario in 2008. The following 12 months saw a change in his role at the club, as he rose to prominence during the victorious 2009 Clausura season.

3) It was during this time that he was handed his first international call-up, being drafted into the Argentina team by head coach Diego Maradona. Under Maradona, Otamendi gained international recognition and found himself a regular selection throughout the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign and the finals in South Africa.

4) Following his development on both the domestic and international scene, Porto snapped Otamendi up for around £3.3m, despite reported interest from the likes of AC Milan. The player's time in Portugal has aided his progression, and his valuation has more than quadrupled over the past three seasons, with Porto thought to be seeking around £25m for one of their star assets.

5) Otamendi's main strengths are his level-headedness and ability to read the game, traits which have seen him compared with Argentine great Roberto Ayala in his home country. Since moving to Europe, those skills have been refined and his composure on the ball is one of the myriad reasons why he is rated so highly.