Manchester United are understood to be interested in signing an experienced centre-half having suffered from a host of issues at the back this season.
The likes of Toby Alderweireld, Kalidou Koulibaly and Kostas Manolas have all been touted as options for executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
Manchester United are prepared to spend big on the right player, with £100m available for an individual deal if it is required.
However, it appears Woodward and co. had a bargain in their sights this month as they lined up wantaway Juventus ace Benatia.
Italian transfer guru Alfredo Pedulla has now claimed that in recent days Benatia was very close to joining United.
The Red Devils are said to have offered the Morocco international a contract worth £3.2m (€3.7m) a year.
However, the prospective move fell through when United would not agree to raise their proposal to £3.9m (€4.5m) a year.
Qatari outfit Al-Duhail are reported to have stepped in to pick up the pieces in order to get Benatia on board.
And they have fended off competition from Al-Ittihad, with the 31-year-old less keen on heading to Saudi Arabia.
Al-Duhail are set to hand Juventus £8.6m (€10m) for Benatia – a snip in today’s inflated transfer market.
And in Qatar Benatia is in line to earn £4.3m (€5m) a year, plus bonuses, which is less than Al-Ittihad offered.
Pedulla reckons Benatia could complete his switch on Monday, with former United assistant manager Rui Faria in charge of Al-Duhail.
Benatia’s rejection means United will have to go back to the drawing board as they seek to bolster their defence.
Although they may now wait until the end of the season rather than rushing through a deal before Thursday’s deadline.
Next up for United is Tuesday night’s Premier League showdown with Burnley at Old Trafford.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping to strengthen his claim for taking the reins full-time by winning a ninth match on the bounce.