Sunday 2 August 2015 11:15, UK
Manchester United are yet to agree a fee with Paris Saint-Germain for Angel Di Maria, but Sky sources understand a deal to take the Argentina international to the Parc des Princes is imminent.
United paid a British record £59.7m fee to Real Madrid to sign Di Maria last August and are understood to be looking for a figure closer to what they spent to sanction his departure.
Sky sources understand United want more than the £44m figure quoted in several national newspapers on Friday and are aiming to secure a deal around the £50m mark for the 27-year-old.
PSG manager Laurent Blanc claimed on Thursday that PSG were close to completing the signing of the midfielder, while his United counterpart Louis van Gaal refused to confirm the deal and revealed he was unaware of the current whereabouts of the player.
Di Maria, who had been given an extended holiday after competing for Argentina at this summer’s Copa America, failed to meet up with the rest of the United squad on their pre-season tour of the United States as expected last Saturday.
Despite enjoying a positive start to life at the club - scoring three goals in his first four matches - Di Maria's form soon faded and he was reduced to playing a bit-part role under Van Gaal towards the end of last season.
Van Gaal has already bolstered his midfield ahead of the new season with the signings of Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin and is expected to secure winger Ashley Young to a new contract.
However, Sky sources also understand United are actively pursuing a replacement for Di Maria and Van Gaal could yet add further to his attacking options with Barcelona forward Pedro among the players he is monitoring.
