Transfer news: Valencia confirm Otamendi bid but will not name club

Nicolas Otamendi: Valencia have rejected a bid for centre-back

Valencia have confirmed that they have rejected a bid worth nearly £27m for defender Nicolas Otamendi - but won't name the club who made the offer.

Our Spanish football expert Guillem Ballague has been told that Manchester United made the bid.

But this is being strongly denied by sources inside Old Trafford, and Valencia also say Otamendi will stay at the club in this window.

The 26-year-old, who has won 18 Argentina caps, started his career in his homeland Velez Sarsfield before moving to Porto in 2010.

Valencia signed him in February last year and immediately loaned him out to Atletico Minero in Brazil.

But this season he has been in superb form for Valencia, scoring the winner in their 2-1 victory over Real Madrid earlier this month which ended the European champions’ 22-match winning run.

His form has sparked interest from around Europe – and now a big-money bid - but sources at United insist it is not them who have made it.