TheSportsCampus

Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United have been snubbed by Udinese defender Mehdi Benatia with reports in the Metro suggesting that the player is keen to continue playing in the Serie A and would rather move to Italian side Napoli in the January transfer window.

Benatia joined Udinese from French club Clermont in 2010 and has since gone on to make 72 appearances for the side, scoring 5 goals in the process. Benatia has also been capped 20 times for his country Morocco. His consistent displays at the back have not gone unnoticed by clubs in Europe with Tottenham reported to be also interested in the player along with Chelsea and Manchester United.

United have been rather poor at the back and problems have been compounded by the absence of captain Nemanja Vidic, who was sidelined again after returning from a year-long absence. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have just returned and are still reintegrating in the team. The Red Devils have shipped in an alarming 23 goals in 16 Premier League games and a defender is high on the priority list of manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chelsea too find themselves short in the defence department as club captain John Terry has missed the majority of the season with injury, leaving the Blues depleted at the back. Branislav Ivanovic has had to fill in at centre-back with David Luiz and Gary Cahill the only other recognized central defenders in the squad.