Manchester United Set To Lodge Offer For French International

The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Manchester United are linked with Lassana Diarra….

Manchester United are ready to offer Lassana Diarra the chance to return to the Premier League this summer, according to the Express.

Diarra has previously been on the books at Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth between 2005 and 2009 but struggled to establish himself before securing a dream move to Real Madrid.

Following a three-year spell in Spain, the Frenchman headed to Russia where he played for Anzhi Makhachkala and Lokomotiv Moscow before he joined Marseille on a free transfer in the summer of 2015.

The 31-year-old has rediscovered his best form back in his homeland and his superb performances in Ligue 1 have seen Diarra break back in to the French national team, and he’s expected to be named in Didier Deschamps squad for Euro 2016.

It seems his impressive form over the past year has caught the eye at Old Trafford as the Express claim that United are now ready to put forward a contract offer to the defensive midfielder this summer after holding regular talks with his representatives.

The newspaper says that while Diarra is contracted to Marseille until 2019, he has an agreement in place with the clubs president that will allow him to leave on a free transfer if a tempting proposition is put on the table.

The Express suggest that Jose Mourinho is keen to work with Diarra if he replaces Louis van Gaal as manager but even if the ‘Special One’ doesn’t come in, it’s believed that Old Trafford chiefs are hoping to tempt the midfielder to the club.

However, a major stumbling block over any potential move is that Diarra wants to play in the Champions League next season so he’s waiting to see if United finish in the top four before making any firm decision over his future.

United blew their chance to climb above Manchester City on Tuesday night following their 3-2 defeat at West Ham so they’ll need to beat Bournemouth at home and hope City slip up at Swansea in the final game of the season to secure Champions League qualification.

READ MORE –> Man Utd transfer news

Should they finish in the top four, then it seems they have a decent chance of luring Diarra to Old Trafford and the experienced French international could be viewed as a direct replacement for Michael Carrick – who’s contract expires next month.