Personal terms are still to be agreed with him and he needs to pass a medical
Daley Blind. (Photo: AP/ File)
London: Manchester United are set to sign Dutch international Daley Blind after agreeing a fee with his current side Ajax, the Press Association reported on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Blind was in Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal's World Cup squad in Brazil and can play at left-back and as a defensive midfielder.
Personal terms are still to be agreed with him and he needs to pass a medical, but if the deal is sealed before the transfer window shuts on Monday night he will be United's fifth summer signing as Van Gaal seeks to restore the club's flagging fortunes.
They have already spent over £130 million ($215 million, 165 million euros), including a British-record transfer fee of £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 million euros)on Argentina winger Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid. Dutch newspapers confirmed that a deal for Blind's transfer was imminent
"Last (Friday) night, the 19-time international and his business manager Rob Jansen were in deep discussions about a five-year contract with Manchester United," the popular broadsheet De Telegraaf reported.
"If Ajax and Van Gaal's club agree over a fee... the Dutch international is packing his suitcase and by Monday he'll report to (new) Dutch national coach Guus Hiddink... as a United player," the paper said. A transfer fee has not been made public, but Dutch media reports say Blind will cost United between 18 million ($23.6 million, £14.2 million) and 20 million euros.
The son of former Dutch international defender Danny Blind, Daley impressed at the World Cup and played a key role as Van Gaal's side took third place behind Germany and Argentina. A product of the famed Ajax youth academy, he can play in a variety of positions, including left-back and in central midfield.
That versatility is attractive to Van Gaal who has seen his new side make a stumbling start to the season with a home loss to Swansea and a draw at Sunderland in the league compounded by a disastrous 4-0 League Cup loss to third division Milton Keynes Dons. Van Gaal is expected to sell a number of players before Monday night as he seeks to restructure his squad.
Tom Cleverley is in talks with Aston Villa, Shinji Kagawa has been linked with Valencia or a move back to Borussia Dortmund and Javier Hernandez is a reported target for Juventus.
Van Gaal will be hoping to see his side record their first competitive win under his charge as they take on newly-promoted Burnley in the league at Turf Moor later Saturday with Di Maria set to make his debut.
( Source : AFP )
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