The Argentine will arrive with the halo of a saviour given Manchester United’s limp start to the campaign – but at a price, some $107m, which will smash the British transfer record. He’d become the fifth most expensive player ever – behind Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez, ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – and only the 22nd registered at more than $62m. It has been reported that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is trying to suck the life out of United with an astronomical $133m price, but United hope the $107m range will suffice.
ANCELOTTI CONFIRMS DI MARIA DEAL IS ‘VERY CLOSE’
After the 1-1 draw with Sunderland, Louis van Gaal said: “When a transfer has been finished, then we can say.
“But until then, we have to wait and see. It is not only Di Maria, maybe it is also Vidal and [Lionel] Messi. You cannot always sign everyone you like, but we are a big club.”
It has emerged that di Maria had in fact been offered to Manchester City in the past two transfer windows, but according to The Daily Mail, Manuel Pellegrini’s men declined the offer due to Financial Fair Play restrictions, plus satisfaction with the current squad.
Teammates have started to say their farewells to the popular winger, with Xabi Alonso throwing in a subtle dig at United’s rivalry with his old club Liverpool. “‘Thanks for everything Fideo! I wish you all the best, even at Manchester Utd :) never forget the zigzag in extra-time in Lisbon,” he Tweeted.
Once this deal is stitched up, the Telegraph reports that van Gaal will conclude his spending spree with home comforts: central midfielder Nigel de Jong and wing-back Daley Blind.
Meanwhile, Fernando Torres doesn’t seem willing to leave Chelsea any time soon despite not being in the match day squad against Leicester. ESPN reports that AC Milan consider him a sensible replacement for Mario Balotelli, while Roma remani linked. But the Daily Mail suggests Torres remains committed at Stamford Bridge.
“Someone will be needed as a third striker,” Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said after beating Leicester. “I can’t do a season without a third striker. Our squad was made carefully the top structure of my club to give me what I want.
“I believe he will remain. I want him. He will play. He will score goals. He will be very useful for us. He is a fantastic guy, fantastic professional, so no problem.”
On Torres’s omission, Mourinho explained: “The reason he wasn’t on the bench today was that I decided to have a balanced bench with one defender, one full back, one defence midfielder, one attacking midfielder on winger and one striker. Sometimes I can have two strikers on the bench sometimes I can’t.”
Another alternative for AC Milan is Manchester City’s Alvara Negredo, according to Calciomercato.com, with a loan deal the preferred option.
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