Man Utd transfer news: Fabinho and Matuidi to boost midfield
United beat Juventus to Monaco star, while PSG enforcer is looking for a fresh start - all the latest Old Trafford transfer news and gossip
The Italian press are reporting that Manchester United have beaten Juventus to the signature of Monaco midfielder Fabinho.
The Daily Mirror conveys a report in Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport that states that Jose Mourinho has "agreed a deal" for the 23-year-old Brazilian having persuaded him that his interests would be best served by moving to Old Trafford.
Fabinho was instrumental in helping Monaco win the French league last season, and although Juventus and Inter Milan both made a pitch for him he's chosen United. Corriere dello Sport says that United have won the race with a package that "is near €35m and has a €5m bonus linked to goals and appearances", and an official announcement will made shortly.
Meanwhile The Sun says that Blaise Matuidi’s hopes of agreeing a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain are melting faster than an ice cream on a June day in the French capital, and that's put both Manchester United and Arsenal "on alert".
Both clubs have scouted the 30-year-old midfielder in recent months after rumours emerged that his future was by no means assured in Paris. The Sun says Patrick Kluivert's recent departure as PSG's director of football have further reduced the likelihood that he'll sign a new deal, and Matuidi is now considering his options. According to the Sun United have the edge over "after Arsenal blew their Champions League hopes last term" and PSG are ready to listen to offers now so that he doesn't leave on a free transfer next summer when his contract expires.
And The Sun also claims that Matteo Darmian has "rung Jose Mourinho to try and push through a Juventus move".
The Turin club want the full-back to replace Dani Alves - who's expected to join Manchester City shortly - and that fits in with the ambition of Darmian, who hasn't made much of an impression at Old Trafford since arriving from Torino in 2015 in a £12m deal. The Sun says the move would be a loan initially, "with the option to make the deal permanent after a year, at around £17.5m".