Old Trafford side to smash club record fee to land Bernabeu winger.
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Man United are set to complete the signing of long term target Angel Di Maria after seeing a bid for the winger accepted by Real Madrid.
The Old Trafford side will now move to sew up personal terms with the 26 year old with the player’s representatives having already broadly accepted the contract offer on the table for their client.
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CaughtOffside understands that Louis van Gaal’s insistence that chief executive Ed Woodward seals the deal by the end of the week has led to Man United stepping up their push for the La Liga winger.
In many ways Man United’s opening day defeat to Swansea City has assisted in van Gaal’s pursuit of a number of targets, leading the Premier League side to act with renewed immediacy.
Man United have all but completed the capture of Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Rojo, the move having been confirmed by both sides, and the 24 year old is due to undertake a medical at the club’s training ground today.
That move is thought to have acted as further motivation for di Maria, the World Cup star appearing likely to follow his fellow countryman to the club, and Man United’s offer of a £200k a week deal is set to be accepted by the former Benfica man.
Man United have seen a bid of €70m (£56m) accepted by Real Madrid and Louis van Gaal will hope to have the deal done and dusted within 48 hours.
Real Madrid have been keen to offload one or two of their squad in order to help balance the books after a busy summer for the Spanish giants.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti has brought in a host of big names with the acquisitions of James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas, from AS Monaco, Bayern Munich and Levante respectively, have cost the club near on £100m and as such Real Madrid need to cash-in on player sales in order to adhere to UEFA’s FFP (Financial Fair Play) guidelines.
Di Maria finished last term as Real Madrid’s leading assist maker but his first team chances appear limited following the signing of Colombian youngster Rodriguez.
The attacker angered a portion of Real Madrid’s fan-base last term when he reacted to abuse from the stands with an obscene gesture though did win over the supporters with a succession of impressive displays, including a Man of the Match performance during the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid signed di Maria in June 2010 and he has gone on to make 189 appearances for the club, netting 36 goals in the process.
Man United believe the move will act as something of a statement of intent from a club keen to erase the memory of last season’s disastrous seventh place finish and will also act to greatly improve van Gaal’s wide-attacking options.
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