Manchester United look like they are finally ready to complete the signing of the defender they have targeted all summer – Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia.
Otamendi has reportedly made it clear he wants to leave Valencia for Manchester United this summer, while the Spanish club, in a bid to keep their star defender at the Mestalla, have insisted the only way he can leave is if any interested club bid the entire €50million (£35m) of his release clause.
Manchester United have been trying to convince Valencia to come down on their demands, knowing that the player himself wants to move to Old Trafford, with reports last week from AS saying the Premier League side were confident of agreeing to a compromise deal.
Super agent Jorge Mendes has been called in to help all parties involved reach an agreement.
Whatever the cost of the eventual transfer may be though, it does look like Otamendi will be a Manchester United player, with Fichajes claiming the transfer will be completed in days, as the Argentina international prepares to fly straight to England from his holidays.
Ed Woodward flew out from Manchester United's US Tour late last week, but it wasn't clear if that was to complete a move for Otamendi, David De Gea, Sergio Ramos or Pedro Rodriguez from Barcelona.
Either way, if Manchester United are pressing ahead with the Otamendi transfer, especially considering the Ramos deal now looks unlikely, there is a good chance that Woodward flew to Manchester to iron out the details over the move for the Argentina international.
Otamendi has reportedly told Valencia he will not be joining up with them for preseason after his holidays, and with the date of his return approaching, if it hasn't already, a quick transfer looks imminent.
It is never a great thing to see when a player agitates for a move, but then that is the story of modern football at the moment.
Manchester United have been quite busy this summer already, with Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin coming in, while Sergio Romero is reportedly close to signing on a free transfer.
With plenty of money still left to burn, it looks like Otamendi will be the next player in.
