Man Utd Locked In Talks For £25m Attacker But Liverpool Eye Late Hijack Attempt

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, Liverpool and Man Utd are linked with Nicolas Gaitan….

Manchester United are locked in talks with Benfica over £25m-rated attacker Nicolas Gaitan but could yet face late competition from rivals Liverpool, according to the Daily Star.

Gaitan has just enjoyed another impressive campaign with the Portuguese giants with his 4 goals and 16 assists in 36 games helping Benfica land the Portuguese Primeira Liga title.

The Argentinean international is a player many fans should be familiar with as he’s constantly been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent transfer windows and the speculation has once again reared it’s head over the past few months.

The Metro reported at the end of May that Benfica president Luis Filipe Viera had flown over to the UK to hold formal talks with Manchester United about a deal for the 27-year-old, but it seemed a move was on hold as nothing appeared to come of the supposed meeting.

However, the Daily Star are citing reports coming from Portuguese outlet O Jogo which claim that United are once again locked in negotiations with Benfica and the players agent suggests they are waiting for the Red Devils to give the green light to a deal.

“Anything is possible, there is a trade that is pending.

“We are waiting for a response from a leader Manchester United.” Gaitan’s agent is quoted as saying by the Daily Star

I expect United manager Louis van Gaal will be busy in the transfer window again this summer as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for top honours next season and it appears Gaitan is on the Dutchman’s radar.

The attacking midfielder is predominantly used from the left-wing but is capable of playing anywhere across the front three positions so he’d give van Gaal plenty of options if he was to make the move to Old Trafford.

However, while United mull over the move they could risk missing out as the Daily Star claim that Liverpool are also showing a keen interest and could launch a late hijack attempt.

Brendan Rodgers has already been extremely active in the market this summer and wrapped up his fifth new signing after agreeing a deal for Roberto Firmino earlier this week, and it looks like he’s already eyeing yet another new addition.

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

We’ll have to wait and see whether the Merseysiders decide to go head-to-head with United for Gaitan’s signature, but either club will have to dig deep if they want to land him as the Daily Star claim he has a £25m buy-out clause and Benfica are unlikely to sell for anything less.

Based on the newspapers report, United are in pole position as it stands and I think the Argentine would be an excellent signing for van Gaal’s men. He has the required quality to be a success in England and if he makes the move to United, he’d become the third Argentinean on the books as Gaitan would join compatriots Marcos Rojo and Angel Di Maria at Old Trafford.