Manchester United have agreed to sign Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred, according to reliable football journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.
We have been linked with a move for the Brazilian midfielder since January and have seemingly fought off competition from rivals Manchester City.
Di Marzio claims that the deal is worth €50 million (£43m).
Fred is due to arrive in Europe next week for Brazil’s pre-World Cup friendly with Croatia at Anfield, so it could be great timing for the player to agree personal terms and undertake his medical with us at the same time. He has been named in Tite’s 23-man squad for this summer’s tournament in Russia.
We are expected to sign two central midfielders this summer following the retirement of Michael Carrick and impending departure of Marouane Fellaini.
Manchester City were the favourites to sign Fred during the January transfer window as the long-term replacement for Fernandinho. However, if Di Marzio’s report is accurate, then it will be the second time this year that we will have beaten Pep Guardiola’s side in a head-to-head transfer battle, having pinched Alexis Sanchez from under their nose at the start of the year.
The 25-year-old is an energetic midfielder who links up well between the defence and attack.
