Man Utd In Talks Over Deal For €42m-Rated Attacker But Chelsea Could Hijack Move

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Manchester United are once again linked with Nicolas Gaitan….

Manchester United are in talks with Benfica over a deal to sign attacker Nicolas Gaitan this summer but Chelsea could yet hijack the potential move, according to reports.

Gaitan has just come off the back of another impressive season with Benfica with his 4 goals and 16 assists in 36 games helping them land the Portuguese Primeira Liga title.

However, rumours of a potential move to the Premier League have once again resurfaced and recent speculation claiming that Gaitan’s agent and Benfica president Luis Filipe Viera were in the UK holding formal negotiations with an unnamed club.

Now, the Metro are citing reports coming out of Italy that suggest Manchester United are the mystery club with Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri claiming the Red Devils are holding serious talks over a possible deal for the 27-year-old winger.

United boss Louis van Gaal is expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League next season and he could be eyeing Gaitan as a replacement for Angel Di Maria – with the Argentine tipped to leave Old Trafford after a disappointing campaign.

However, United’s hopes of signing the Argentinean international could yet be hijacked by rivals Chelsea with reports claiming that Jose Mourinho is also interested in signing the attacker this summer and could use defender Wallace as a make-weight in any deal.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

Gaitan is believed to have a €42m (£30m) release clause in his contract and Benfica are unlikely to be willing to do business unless that figure is met, so United and Chelsea are going to have to dig deep if they want to bring the player to England this summer.

But if either club could seal a deal they would be signing an exciting attacker. Gaitan is predominantly played from the left wing for Benfica but he’s also capable of playing on the right or even through the middle as an attacking midfielder, so he’d give van Gaal or Mourinho plenty of options in attack.