United officials talking with three Serie A-based players on deadline day.
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Manchester United chiefs have flown to Italy to hold last-minute transfer talks with three top-class midfield targets in the hope of signing a new player before the transfer deadline.
The Red Devils have been chasing a new big-name addition in the middle of the park for much of the summer so far, with time ticking away before the transfer window slams shut tonight.
Although the club have concluded huge transfer deals for big name attacking players such as Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao, it is widely accepted that Louis van Gaal needs at least one more quality signing in midfield to help turn this struggling United side into title challengers.
Many names have been linked with moves to Old Trafford in the last few months, but the club have now narrowed their shortlist down to three main options in the final hours of the transfer window, with all three based in Serie A.
3) Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan)
One name in United’s sights is Inter Milan midfielder Fredy Guarin, who could join his fellow Colombian international Radamel Falcao at Old Trafford this season. The 28-year-old has been one of Serie A’s top performers in recent times, and fits the bill in terms of what United currently need in midfield, with a great range of passing, work rate and an eye for goal. Guarin is the cheapest option on this list, and could move for just £16m.
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2) Arturo Vidal (Juventus)
Linked strongly with United all summer long, Arturo Vidal could still make the move to England as his future with Juventus remains uncertain. Officials are holding talks with the club in an attempt to finally reach a fee after struggling to meet the Italian giants’ valuation of the player in previous discussions. It could take as much as £40m to prise the Chilean international away from the Serie A champions, but based on his recent displays, it would certainly be money well spent by United to solve what has been such a problem position for the team.
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1) Kevin Strootman (AS Roma)
Finally, United are also set to make a last-ditch attempt to sign AS Roma playmaker Kevin Strootman. The classy Dutch international only joined the Stadio Olimpico outfit last summer after being strongly linked with United then as well, but he remains a priority target for Louis van Gaal. Valued at around £26m, it could still be that United will be able to push through a deal for the 24-year-old in the dying hours of the transfer window, depending on how talks with Guarin and Vidal progress.
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