Manchester United are ready to make another move to sign Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan. Reports in Portugal are claiming United will battle with Atletico Madrid for the signature of the 27-year-old, who has been a target for United since 2011. The Portuguese newspapers A Bola and O Jogo both claim that United are in pole position to sign Gaitan should they table a bid that matches Benfica's valuation of the player. They also claim that a move to Old Trafford remains Gaitan's preferred option, with United ready to offer him better terms than Atletico.
But a deal would appear to depend on whether the club's record signing Angel Di Maria who had a rough first season remains a United player next season. Di Maria has been linked with a move away this summer, with Louis van Gaal saying that he would not stand in his way if he asked to leave and Paris giants PSG who's UEFA financial fair play sanctions have been lifted are interested in the winger. However, some impressive performances in the Copa America in Chile have served as a reminder of Di Maria's qualities, and United are reluctant to write him off after just one year which could mean disappointment for Gaitan, who was first scouted by United in 2011. The club began talks with Benfica in November of that year, with the Portuguese demanding a fee of around £38million the release clause in his contract at the time. Twenty per cent of that fee would be due to Gaitan's former club, Boca Juniors.
The player himself remains relaxed about his future, in public at least, and not surprisingly as his current contract expires in 2018.
Gaitan who has nine caps for Argentina is quoted in A Bola as saying: “I have a contract, I’m here and all I want to work as calmly as possible."
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