Manchester United kick off summer spending with Fred deal as Jose Mourinho eyes Manchester City battle

MANCHESTER UNITED have begun their summer recruitment with the addition of Fred edging yet closer.

Posted Monday, June 04, 2018 by Express.co.uk

Man Utd transfer news: Fred is close to signing for the club

The Brazil midfielder will be tasked with helping to replace Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini in Mourinho's engine room.

The 25-year-old is set for a medical after coming through the Brazil vs Croatia friendly at Anfield unscathed.

Manchester United have agreed a £53m fee with Shakhtar Donetsk and expect the agreement of personal terms to be a formality.

Fred kicks off United's summer spending as they look to get closer to champions Manchester City.

Mourinho, who wants the bulk of his summer deals done before the World Cup, is eyeing three defenders as well as another midfielder.

United are still monitoring Gareth Bale's situation at Real Madrid and Willian's at Chelsea as they also consider adding another forward.

A deal for Portuguese right-back Diogo Dalot could be next while a bid for Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld is expected shortly.

Then a left-back will be on the agenda with Alex Sandro the top target and Danny Rose another option.

But Fred's arrival will be rubber-stamped this week and he is expected at Carrington to complete his move before jetting out of the UK with Brazil ahead of the World Cup.

Fred joined Shakhtar from Internacional in 2013 and has impressed under Paulo Fonseca.

He has seven Brazil caps and is going to Russia as back up to Casemiro and Fernandinho.

He played eight minutes for Brazil against Croatia as Neymar scored on his return from injury and Roberto Firmino added the second in front of the Anfield crowd.

Fred is expected to sign a four-year deal with the option of a fifth at Old Trafford.

The midfielder was on City's radar in January but they have now turned their attention to Napoli ace Jorginho but have seen their first bid rejected.

Fred is expected to play alongside Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba in the heart of midfield, although United have also been linked with Marco Verratti.

Pogba's future remains a point of contention after he struggled last season and shock reports from Spain have claimed he could be used in a swap deal with Real Madrid to bring Gareth Bale back to England.

However it is understood Bale is waiting to see who replaces Zinedine Zidane at Madrid before deciding his future.

Bale suggested he could be on the move after his Champions League final double against Liverpool last week, but he remains keen to stay in Spain if he's in the manager's plans.