Man Utd transfer window 2015: from Memphis to Martial
Van Gaal did good business early in the summer, but the window closed amid confusion over De Gea and an unheard of teenager
Man Utd transfer news: £20m Pedro deal is 'almost done'
5 August
United chief Ed Woodward spent Tuesday evening "thrashing out a deal with Barca's top brass", claims The Sun. Why? Because Pedro is heading to Old Trafford for a cool £20m and will soon be officially unveiled as a United player.
An Old Trafford insider told the Sun: "A deal is almost done. Pedro wants it, United want it and Barcelona accept they have to let the lad go."
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The 28-year-old frontman, who has spent 11 years at the Camp Nou, "is set to say goodbye to Barcelona fans tonight" in a pre-season loosener against Roma. Barca boss Luis Enrique has apparently tried in vain to persuade Pedro to stay but conceded that the Spaniard wanted a fresh challenge in England.
Talking of fresh challenges, Angel di Maria has confirmed he's joined Paris Saint-Germain, though there's still no official confirmation from either United or the French champions. The Argentine winger passed his medical in Qatar and declared himself "very happy" to be joining PSG.
The BBC reports that the 27-year-old Argentina midfielder has been offloaded by United for a fee in the region of £44m, £15m less than they shelled out for his services 12 months ago.
"I am very happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, they're very important," Di Maria told beIN Sport. He said he wanted to help the club make it to the last four of the Champions League. "I will try to do the best I can to help the club in those objectives," he added.
Man Utd transfer news: Di Maria medical snag, £100m Bale bid
4 August
Not all Angels are good at flying. According to the Daily Mail Angel di Maria's £44.4m move to Paris Saint-Germain was delayed because the player "was too tired to undergo a medical following his 20-hour trip from Argentina".
The paper reports that the 27-year-old headed to off Qatar in the early hours of Sunday with the intention of undergoing an immediate medical at the Aspire Centre. But by the sounds of things Di Maria spent the journey watching in-flight movies because he and "his entourage opted to go to their hotel" upon landing. PSG doctor Eric Rolland was kept waiting, therefore, and won't finish the medical until today. Assuming he gets a clean bill of health, the Argentine will then complete his move from Manchester United to PSG in a deal that is understood to be worth £170,000 a week in wages after tax.
Despite his experience with Di Maria last season, it seems as though Louis van Gaal still has a taste for expensive wingers from Real Madrid and it has been claimed United have "made two world record-busting £100m bids" for Gareth Bale this summer. But The Sun says Real Madrid aren't interested with the paper claiming club president Florentino Perez "refused to deal with United".
Rafael has completed his move from Old Trafford to Lyon in what the Daily Star says is a four-year deal. Left out of the club's pre-season tour to the USA, the Brazilian defender decided it was time to move on after seven years with United and three league titles. In leaving for France 25-year-old, Rafael signed off on social media by thanking "United fans for all the love… I also want to thank all employees who always treated me with great affection".
Man Utd transfer news: Bale deal still on as Di Maria leaves
3 August
A big money deal that takes Gareth Bale to Old Trafford this summer "remains a possibility", according to The Independent, which claims that United "are prepared to make an £86m move" for the Welsh playmaker this month.
With Angel di Maria on the brink of sealing a £44m move to Paris Saint-Germain, according to the BBC and others, Louis van Gaal will use the money made on the Argentine winger to buy Bale and at the same time strengthen his attacking options.
The Daily Express says United's new kit suppliers, Adidas, who are paying £750m for the privilege over the next ten years, are "pushing for Wales international Bale to join United". The paper describes Bale, who has his own contract with the sportswear giant, as one of Adidas's "A-list" clients, and says the firm believes "Bale and United is the perfect fit in terms of marketing".
The Independent says that the Red Devils have a long way to go in their pursuit of Bale but Real's wish to sign goalkeeper David De Gea will "enhance United's negotiating position".
There's an exclusive at the Daily Star which reports that Ashley Young has been offered a new three-year contract "with the option of a further year". As for the finer details, the Star says that the 30-year-old winger will be on similar terms to his current £120k-a-week deal which has one year to run. The news will disappoint Tottenham, who has been linked with a move for the Old Trafford wideman, while Liverpool were also said to weighing up an £8m offer.
Man Utd transfer news: deal close despite Di Maria stand-off
31 July
Angel di Maria's move to Paris Saint-Germain is a done deal, according to reports in France, which claim that he will be unveiled this weekend.
French newspaper L'Equipe claims that the Argentine winger has agreed a four-year deal with the French champions and that Manchester United have agreed a fee £44m, which would make him the second most expensive player in French history, behind Edinson Cavani, but still represent a £16m loss for United.
For once Sky Sports is more circumspect and claims that the two sides "are yet to agree a fee", and claim that United are not prepared to accept £44m and are demanding something closer to £50m.
But despite the stand-off Sky says "a deal to take the Argentina international to the Parc des Princes is imminent".
Assuming the move goes through, the money received will likely accelerate United's pursuit of Pedro from Barcelona, with the Daily Express saying the Spain winger will soon sign for the club in a £22m deal.
Man Utd transfer news: Pedro and Di Maria key to Young deal
30 July
Does Ashley Young have a future at Old Trafford? According to Talksport, the 30-year-old winger has worked hard in recent months to impress new boss Louis van Gaal and as a result the England man is "close to signing a new deal" at Manchester United.
With Angel Di Maria on his way to Paris Saint-Germain, if the rumours are to be believed, Young is part of Van Gaal's plans for this season, says Talksport. Tottenham had been linked with a move for Young but the broadcaster says that he is "now set to quash talk of a switch to Spurs" with his agent close to agreeing terms on a fresh deal with United.
But the Daily Star has a different take on events, claiming that Young is set for "showdown talks" with chief executive Ed Woodward now that he's returned from the club's pre-season tour of America.
The paper says that Young "is likely to find himself down the pecking order" this season what with the £25m signing of Memphis Depay and the likely arrival in the coming weeks of Pedro from Barcelona. The Star quotes a United insider saying of Young: "He's doesn't want to leave, but doesn't want to become just a squad man either because at his age he needs regular first team football. If no offer of a contract extension is made then he will see what his options elsewhere are looking like."
Man Utd transfer news: Pedro set to join, but no Ramos deal
28 July
Manchester United are set to break the £100m barrier for the second summer running, claims the Daily Mirror with the paper reporting that the Red Devils are "moving closer" to signing Barcelona frontman Pedro.
Apparently United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was in the US for talks with Pedro's agent before their friendly against Barca in San Jose on Saturday (a game United won 3-1). Woodward has now returned to the UK and the Mirror says that following the discussions United are "ready to meet Pedro's release clause of £22m".
The 27-year-old, who has played 318 games for Barcelona over the years, is said to be "concerned at his lack of game-time" now that he's fallen behind Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the club's strikeforce structure. The Mirror says that Barcelona "have told him he can leave this summer" and it's now up to United boss Louis van Gaal to make a suitable offer.
But the news is less good concerning another Spanish star in the sights of United. Sky Sports claims that Sergio Ramos is coming round to the idea of remaining loyal to Real Madrid. The centre back has been linked with Old Trafford for weeks, but new coach Rafa Benitez says he's had words with club president Florentino Perez and the news on Ramos is encouraging. "I spoke to the president at lunch on Sunday and he told me that he hoped to speak with Ramos," explained Benitez. "I've asked both about it and they seem to be optimistic."
As for the saga of Angel di Maria, that continues to edge towards a conclusion with Paris Saint-German manager Laurent Blanc saying: "The whole thing is close to being over. 'I'm rather positive about it." The Argentina ace went missing from United's pre-season tour of America and it's subsequently emerged that was because Di Maria was in discussions with PSG.
The Daily Mail says the two clubs "are still negotiating a fee" with the French champions trying to get away with an initial fee of £28.5m. United want far more for the player, who cost them a whopping £59.7m 12 months ago. Now, according to the Mail, PSG's owner, Nasser Al Khelaifi, has arrived in London for "discussions over the fee" with United's executive vice-chairman Woodward, who is a busy man these days.
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