Manchester United agree bargain £13.1m deal for Bundesliga star and Man City target

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Manchester United have agreed a deal for Hoffenheim star Roberto Firmino according to the Metro.

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The Red Devils are ready to pay £13.1 million for the Brazil international, who is currently with his national team for the Copa America.

The 23-year-old would be the second signing of the summer for United, with the club having already announced on their official site that they have agreed a deal with PSV Eindhoven for Memphis Depay.

With the Netherlands international being just 21-years-old, and Firmino only slightly older, United look set to have a young and exciting forward line for the coming campaign.

If Firmino does arrive at Old Trafford he could add a great deal of creativity to Louis van Gaal’s side. The youngster has scored or assisted 44 goals in the last two Bundesliga seasons, netting 23 times and creating 21 for his teammates. This is more than any other midfielder in a division with players such as Mario Gotze and Julian Draxler.

As such, £13.1 million seems like a bargain for a footballer so promising, yet clearly already able to compete and contribute at the highest level.

United looked in need of creativity at the back end of last season with Angel Di Maria seemingly terminally out of form, heaping all of the pressure onto Juan Mata. The former Chelsea man managed ten goals and four assists last time round, while his Argentine teammate netted four times and created ten other goals. This is put to shame by Firmino, who managed ten assists and twelve goals in a much weaker side in the Bundesliga.

The Brazilian has also been the subject of transfer interest from  Manchester City, with the Daily Star reporting that the Citizens made a double swoop for both Firmino and his Bundesliga rival Kevin De Bruyne in May.

It would seem that ESPN Brazil journalist Jose Elias originally broke the news that a move could be close with this tweet. It claims that the midfielder is having a medical while on international duty as part of a deal involving Manchester United.

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