Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria reportedly on verge of securing move to Manchester United

RUMOUR Mill: Manchester United set to welcome Angel Di Maria, Jose wants Fernando Torres to stay while Danny Welbeck is likely to join Spurs.

Angel Di Maria

MANCHESTER United are close to signing Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria for a British-record transfer fee, according to Sky Sports sources.

The Argentine winger is expected to hold talks with United next week over a transfer that is thought to be worth up to $100 million.

Angel Di Maria's proposed move to #MUFC would break the British Transfer Record. #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/cSVbLqbN2i

— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) August 23, 2014

Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says the deal should be signed in the next few days.

“It now looks certain that he will leave Real Madrid and become a Manchester United player. The final meetings will take place at the beginning of next week,” he said.

“So advanced, in fact, are the negotiations that it has already been agreed that Di Maria will wear the number seven shirt, worn in the past by no lesser players than David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, George Best and Bryan Robson.”

“As soon as Di Maria knew of Manchester United’s interest he was very excited about the possibility of coming to Old Trafford. At first Paris Saint-Germain showed interest in singing him and said they were prepared to meet his wage demands but the deal offered by United was much more interesting to him.”

Fernando Torres won’t be going to Italy.

Please don’t go, Fernando! You’re time will come

Just when Fernando Torres spied a possible escape route from his Stamford Bridge nightmare, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reels him in.

The much-maligned Spaniard, linked with a move to AC Milan, was not even on the bench against Leicester as Diego Costa confirmed he is the club’s top forward with his second goal in two games before being replaced by Didier Drogba.

But Chelsea manager Mourinho insisted he needed three strikers at the west London club to cope with the demands of competing on several fronts and that Torres will get his chance.

“I decided to keep the same team (that beat Burnley 3-1 on the opening weekend) and I decided to have a bench with a complete balance,” Mourinho said.

“Sometimes I can have two strikers on the bench, sometimes I can’t, and today that was my decision.

Fernando Torres. NEVER GIVE UP! pic.twitter.com/xHOSUyjDcr

— Chelsea FC (@FaktanyaCFC) August 20, 2014

“I want three strikers in the squad. Sometimes I will play with two and have one on the bench, sometimes one will be suspended and one injured.

“But I can’t do a season without three strikers. Our squad was made carefully over the summer. I want him (Torres) to stay.

“To be the first-choice striker he has to score more goals than the first striker.

“He will get the chance to do that. He will play soon. He is a great professional.

“After this week we have three matches a week and then it is easier because all the squad will be playing.”

Cech could go out on loan

But in other Chelsea developments - and, in particular, good news for Mark Schwarzer - goalkeeper Petr Cech is set to spend the rest of this season on loan in France, according to the Daily Express.

With Thibault Courtois seemingly set as Mourinho’s No.1 choice - and Chelsea needing to cut one foreign player from their EPL squad, Cech looks like going to Paris Saint-Germain or Monaco on a season-long loan.

Jose Mourinho wants to retain the option of recalling him though should the need arise.

Could this have been Danny Welbeck final game for United?

Spurs line up Welbeck move

Tottenham Hotspur has emerged as the surprise frontrunner for Manchester United and England striker Danny Welbeck

The Times is reporting that Welbeck, who wasn’t part of Louis Van Gaal’s opening-day squad, has been told he can leave United and is ‘hopeful’ of securing a move to play under Mauricio Pochettino. A deal of around $27 million is expected to be consummated.

Welbeck, who scored nine goals last season, would be pushed down the pecking order at United if Di Maria arrives, as expected.

Defensive reinforcements on the way to Arsenal

Arsenal have also expressed interest, as have Hull City and Sunderland, although they are both considered long shots.

Arsenal seemingly endless search for defensive options has led them to three players - Alex Song, Belgium star Toby Alderweireld and West Ham’s Winston Reid.

El Mundo Deportivo is saying Song would fill the defensive midfield role, with an $18 million bid for the Barcelona midfielder forthcoming.

The Daily Star is saying Alderweireld could be arriving this week to bolster the centre of defence while Kiwi Reid is seen as an option and would cost around $14 million.

Originally published as Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria reportedly on verge of securing move to Manchester United