United Agree Deal To Sign Gaitan?

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign the Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan with both Fabio and Federico Macheda moving to the Portuguese club as part of the terms.

The details of the deal are likely to see Fabio going only on a season’s long loan while Macheda’s transfer could be a permanent one, with United then reducing some of the costs of acquiring the highly-rated Gaitán. Although the figures involved are unlikely to be disclosed, and the deal will not be announced until the season is over, it appears United are valuing Gaitán at more than £20million plus the players.

While it will be interesting to see where he fits into Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans United have been tracking the Argentina international for some time and are now understood to have made their move for a summer transfer.

Gaitan, who can play as an attacking midfielder or left-sided winger, caught the eye in Benfica’s Champions League campaign this season when they faced both United and Chelsea.

Macheda, the 20-year-old Italian striker, is on loan to Queens Park Rangers but has failed to make an impression after a handful of appearances and has returned to United after suffering an ankle injury. It would now appear his days at Old Trafford are numbered with Macheda a makeweight in the deal while, more interestingly, Fabio also appears set to be included.

Jason Burt, Daily Telegraph