UNITED SPECIAL Starring role at Reds could seal Mor deal
VICTOR Lindelof has arrived in Manchester – and Alvaro Morata and Ivan Perisic could soon join him, according to sources close to both players.
The Sweden defender was pictured at United’s training base at Carrington yesterday morning as the final touches were put to his £30.7m move from Benfica.
And the 22-year-old will be the first of an expected four arrivals this summer – with Alvaro Morata close to completing his big-money move from Real Madrid. M.E.N. Sport understands that United are not the only club still in the race for the Real Madrid forward, but Morata’s relationship with Jose Mourinho has ultimately swung it in their favour.
The Portuguese handed Morata his first-team debut at the Santiago Bernabeu back in 2010 and he made Morata his No.1 transfer target after Zlatan Ibrahimovic tore his cruciate in April.
United made an approach for Morata last month, but it was still ‘early days’ ahead of Madrid’s bid to become the first side to retain the Champions League.
Morata, who has three Champions League winner’s medals, was keen to discover whether United would return to Europe’s premier competition after a oneyear absence.
It is understood that no ‘significant’ move had been made until last week, after Madrid’s 4-1 win against Juventus, negotiations have rapidly since then.
The chance to become the main man at United, ahead of next summer’s World Cup, is a big pull for Morata after struggling for a regular run of starts at Madrid and Juventus.
Perisic, meanwhile, is already planning for life as a United player and expects to join the club this summer, according to sources close to the player.
M.E.N. Sport understands an but progressed agreement has not yet been reached between United and Inter Milan over a fee, but Perisic’s camp do not believe that will prove an issue. It is understood that the Croatian ‘appreciates’ and ‘enjoys’ the work of Jose Mourinho and is keen on playing in the Champions League again after a four-year absence. Although Perisic is content with life in Milan, the father-of-two sees this summer as the chance to finally make the move to England after spells in France, Belgium, Germany and Italy. Inter, who recently appointed Luciano Spalletti as their new manager, need to raise £26m by the end of June to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations – which could speed things up. Hard-working and direct, Perisic has been earmarked by Mourinho as the ideal signing to improve United’s transitions and cutting edge on the break. The 28-year-old would give Mourinho a more direct option with his ability to find an extra gear when bursting forward into the final third.