Manchester United to finalise £52m midfield signing next week

Manchester United are understood to have finalised a summer move for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fred and the move is likely to be announced next week. The 25-year-old has been earmarked as a direct replacement for Michael Carrick, who retired from the game at the end of the 2017/18 season.
According to The Sun, Jose Mourinho’s side have negotiated an initial package of £52m for the Brazil international, who will be participating in an international friendly against Croatia at Anfield on Sunday.
Shortly after the game, the Red Devils are likely to contact the midfielder with regards to completing the necessary formalities with Mourinho keen to have the deal sorted out prior to the summer World Cup.
Fred was initially touted as a target for Manchester City for the January transfer window but they surprisingly bowed out of the pursuit after deciding to sign a versatile defender in the form of Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao instead.
Since then, the Citizens have turned their focus towards Napoli midfielder Jorginho and this has supposedly offered a United a clear route to pursue the former Internacional graduate.
Fred is expected to take the position of Michael Carrick in the United squad after the 36-year-old decided to call time on his playing career but the club could yet invest on another midfield recruit during the summer.
As things stand, the Mancunian giants have yet to finalise a contract with Marouane Fellaini with his current deal due to expire on June 30 and the Belgian appears likelier by the day to leave Old Trafford.
Besides this, the club are also aiming to bolster the full-back positions for the summer with both Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young having entered the twilight of their respective careers.
The pair have done reasonably well whenever they have been entrusted to start in the right-back and left-back respectively but Mourinho is sure to look into the future where they are likely to show a drop in terms of performance.