PSG are still confident of signing Manchester United star Angel Di Maria despite an early stumbling block in negotiations, reports the Daily Express.
The French side are thought to have made a £28 million bid for the player. This is despite the Red Devils signing him for £59.7 million just last summer [according to the Express]. If United sold him for so little it would constitute a miserable £31.7 million loss over just 12 months.
With United keen to rake in as close to what they originally paid as possible, the difference in valuation could be a major hitch in talks. The Premier League side have even stopped the 27-year-old from having a medical before his move. However, the Ligue 1 champions, who aren’t known for skimping on transfer fees, don’t seem to believe that it will hold them back for long.
“In the Di Maria case, the whole thing is close to being over,” said manager Laurent Blanc, “I’m rather positive about it. We are also expecting departures in our group. We want to renew the group.”
This all comes after the Argentina international had an up and down debut season with United. Despite scoring four goals and assisting another 11, the former Real Madrid man lost his place in the team to Ashley Young and was thought of as a failure by some [Independent].
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This wasn’t helped by the winger having to endure his family home being broken in to [Daily Express], an incident which prompted manager Louis van Gaal to admit that he could let the forward go on compassionate grounds [Sky Sports].
“I am always like that,” said the Dutchman when asked if the player could leave if unsettled, “when you see my history, that’s part of my philosophy. A player is not just a man who kicks the ball from A to B. His environment is influencing him.
“I shall always be open but I know that the commercial interests of the club and we have to respect that. You cannot give a lot of money for a player and next season put him out of your selection.”
As a result, it could be that the Red Devils are happy to let their record signing leave, and PSG are right to be confident of signing him. United even seem to have a replacement lined up, with Barcelona ace Pedro being heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford [Daily Star].