Report: Manchester United On The Verge of Completing Thiago Alcantara Transfer

Sources very close to Manchester United have told ESPN that a deal for Barcelona and Spain central attacking midfielder, Thiago, is nearing completion. 

The potential transfer has reportedly taken a very positive turn over the past few days, and it could be finished in earnest by the time that David Moyes gives his first press conference as United boss.

The news will come as a welcome relief to many United fans who have become pessimistic at the best of times following the past few years' recent failures in the transfer market.

While last year the Red Devils did managed to bag Shinji Kagawa and Robin van Persie, they also missed out on two of their primary targets in the shape of Eden Hazard and Lucas Moura.

Other players in recent history have followed a similar path of seemingly being about to sign for the English champions, only to move elsewhere at the last minute.

Mesut Ozil, Wesley Sneijder and Karim Benzema are among just a few other names that seemed Old Trafford-bound only to end it plying their trade for another team.

Hopefully, from a Manchester United perspective, this Thiago deal is going to buck this recent trend.

It does now appear, on the surface at least, that Thiago will be playing in the red of Manchester next season, despite the best efforts of his current (perhaps soon to be former) club, Barcelona.

The sources claimed that while there have been some issues surrounding the transfer (Thiago demanding a get-out clause if he doesn't receive enough game time), things appear to have been ironed out fully now.

In a statement given on Tuesday Barca spokesman Toni Freixa claimed that:

"

"There's no news [regarding Thiago]. He has a contract and didn't say anything, so he's still a Barca player now."

"

Over years of watching football—in this case the transfer window in particular—one thing I've learnt is that if a player, manager or spokesman comes out with the line "He is still an [insert team name here] player right now," it means they are almost certainly on their way out the door.

While that doesn't necessarily mean Thiago is going to United, it is still another positive bit of speculation for David Moyes, who won't have to try too hard to convince the 22-year-old to join up with the club.

Further bids are expected from Moyes later in the window. Namely, in the shape of Kevin Strootman, according to The Daily Mirror, and Leighton Baines, as reported by The Guardian.

Both of these stars have been touted as Manchester United transfer targets for a while now, and I would be shocked if at least one of them doesn't come to the club this summer.

For now though it appears as if the Thiago deal is simply days away. United fans watch this space for a possible announcement of a new Red Devil some time in the coming week.

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