Manchester United make contact with Bayern over defender

Manchester United have made contact with Bayern Munich over the possibility of signing central defender Jerome Boateng, according to Bild.

Earlier in the summer, it was reported that United had been offered the defender at £50m, but the player is reportedly now available for £44.5m.

With three days to go before the transfer window in England closes, United are still yet to get any of the central defenders they have reportedly been chasing this summer.

Despite agreeing personal terms with Barcelona defender Yerry Mina, the deal has broken down due to a problem over agent fees.

The 29-year-old Boateng will provide the United central defence with experience having won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 and many league titles with Bayern.

He played 19 Bundesliga games last season and featured twice in Germany's failed bid to reclaim their World Cup trophy in Russia.

He has played for United rivals Manchester City between 2010 and 2011 before signing for Bayern.