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Transfer Rumours

United agree British record transfer fee

Angel-Di-MariaManchester United have agreed a £59.7m fee with Real Madrid for the transfer of Angel Di Maria, who could be officially unveiled as a United player on Tuesday morning, after being spotted arriving at Carrington last night.

The arrival of the Argentine winger, who was man of the match as his soon-to-be former side beat Atletico Madrid to clinch their 10th European Cup in May, represents a huge coup for United, who have lacked a world class winger since Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford for the Bernabeu.

Earlier this month, Di Maria, who provided 17 assists in all competitions last season, looked poised to join PSG, only for the French club to pull out of the race as they baulked at Real Madrid’s asking price, which was believed to be around £75m, allowing United back into the picture.

During the summer, Louis Van Gaal has repeatedly stressed the need for United to secure at least one world class winger, given the paucity of options at the Dutchman’s disposal in that area of the pitch, with Nani sent on loan to Sporting Lisbon and neither Ashley Young nor Antonio Valencia good or consistent enough.

The signing of Di Maria, however, also underlines the club’s erratic strategy in the transfer window, for while the Argentine is a world class talent and arrives on the back of arguably the best season of his career, he won’t address United’s moribund midfield, which looks set to be neglected for yet another season.

Ander Herrera is, of course, an excellent player, but the feeling is that much more than the Basque is needed in the engine room if United are to turn their fortunes around.

Furthermore, the £59.7m United are set to fork out for Di Maria, represent a British record transfer fee is likely to place added pressure on the Argentine’s winger, who’s already been dubbed a “luxury signing” by members of the media, who clearly resent the notion of United spending money.

Having already clinched the signings of Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera, Di Maria’s arrival would bring United’s spending this summer to £130.7m, with Arturo Vidal, Nigel De Jong and Daley Blind all still on the radar.

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