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David Alaba would prefer to join Arsenal over Manchester United if he leaves Bayern Munich for a Premier League club.

United have been linked with Alaba, 24, over the last week and M.E.N. Sport understands the boyhood Arsenal fan would rather relocate to London, discounting a reunion with Pep Guardiola at City.

Austria international Alaba only signed a new Bayern contract until 2021 in March but standards under the laissez-faire Carlo Ancelotti have started to dwindle and it is believed Arsenal are interested in bringing Alaba to England.

Former United manager Louis van Gaal made an audacious bid to sign Bayern forward Thomas Muller and the only players United have bought from the five-times European Cup winners are Bastian Schweinsteiger and Owen Hargreaves.

Adept in defence and midfield, Alaba is valued at around £34million by Bundesliga champions Bayern and Jose Mourinho is keen to recruit two 'quality' defenders as early as the January transfer window.

Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk is another player whose chances of a mid-season transfer to United are remote. The Saints want £40million for the 25-year-old, who is also interesting Liverpool.

Van Dijk signed a six-year contract with Southampton earlier this year and his improved performances, as well as the club's ability to attain extravagant fees for their prized players, has seen his valuation soar to over three times the £13m Southampton paid Celtic for Van Dijk last year.

Mourinho has informedEd Woodward of his determination to strengthen United's defence but there are no assurances funds will be available after they spent £145.3million in the summer transfer window on Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba.

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