Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are in advanced negotiations with Manchester United to sign winger Angle Di Maria, according to the Guardian.
The French champions have lodged an initial bid of £28.5 million for the 28-year-old Argentina international that is less than half of a British record fee of £59.7m, the Red Devils paid to Real Madrid for the winger last summer.
Though United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is said to be resisting the bid and looking for an improved offer, PSG manager Laurent Blanc has expressed optimism that the deal will go through.
“In the Di Maria case, the whole thing is close to being over. I’m rather positive about it,” he said.
Di Maria has made up his mind to leave the Old Trafford after having endured a difficult breakthrough Barclays Premier League season, during which he managed just three goals in 27 appearances.
Besides PSG, he also attracted interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich this summer.
The Argentine did not arrive with United in America for their ongoing preseason tour because of a hamstring injury he suffered during the Copa America earlier this month.
The former Real Madrid player was expected to join his United teammates at San Jose, California following their 3-1 tour victory over Barcelona in their third match of International Champions Cup on Saturday but failed to do so.
United will play their last game of the preseason tournament against PSG at Soldier Field in Chicago on Thursday.