Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Pedro and Sergio Romero Rumours

Manchester United will surprise their Premier League peers with a move for Barcelona forward Pedro, it's emerged, while the Red Devils are also close to completing a deal to sign Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

Louis van Gaal's side are ready to trigger the £22 million release clause in Pedro's Barcelona contract, according to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson. He claimed Pedro will fit the manager's preference to play a 4-3-3:

Pedro has found playing time difficult to come by at the Camp Nou of late, with Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal's summer arrivals set to further complicate his first-team involvement.

However, Barcastuff, citing Spanish newspaper Sport, reported that any new Barcelona board is unlikely to cash in on the winger upon Saturday's election results being announced:

"

Many clubs have shown interest in Barcelona winger Pedro (27), but it's unlikely that the new board will decide to sell him. [sport]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) July 17, 2015"

Jackson mentioned Premier League champions Chelsea as being among those other parties hoping to sign Pedro, but the player is thought to prefer Old Trafford as a destination this summer.

The 27-year-old's release clause was lowered to £22 million (€30 million) from £109 million this summer, presumably to give Pedro a better chance of finding a new club.

With that being the case, it would appear Barca are more willing to let Pedro search for playing time elsewhere, and they at least have little choice now should any club choose to trigger the clause.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay have already arrived in what's been a hectic summer for United, but the acquisition of Pedro would give the team an elite option out wide.

United felt his talents first hand when Pedro scored against the Red Devils in the 2011 Champions League final, one of three European crowns the Spain international has to his name.

Pedro has also won five La Liga crowns, a World Cup and a European Championship, precisely the kind of winning pedigree Van Gaal is hoping to inject.

Manchester United Medical for Sergio Romero

Andre Penner/Associated Press

The goalkeeping landscape is set to undergo further change at Old Trafford following news that Sergio Romero is poised for a Manchester United medical.

Sky Italia (via Metro's Jamie Sanderson) claims the free agent will shun Roma to sign for the Red Devils, replacing Victor Valdes in the No. 2 role.

Romero worked with Van Gaal during their time together at AZ Alkmaar between 2007 and 2009, winning the Eredivisie before the latter departed for Bayern Munich.

David Amoyal, translator on behalf of GianlucaDiMarzio.com, reported Manchester United will need a new reserve stopper as Valdes nears a move to Major League Soccer:

One of the most uncertain transfer stories at United this summer has of course been that of David De Gea and whether he'll move back to Spain with Real Madrid's interest hovering.

BBC Sport's Simon Stone reported on Friday that De Gea will remain at Old Trafford unless Sergio Ramos comes in the other direction, putting the two clubs in a fierce battle of priorities.

Romero will provide good cover behind De Gea should the Spaniard stay, but he could also be seen as a viable replacement if the situation altered and United's incumbent No. 1 moved on.

The former Monaco and Sampdoria stopper has 62 caps for Argentina and Serie A writer Omid Zamani lauded the 6'4" asset as a good signing:

Van Gaal's familiarity with the South American will also help with any initial settling-in period, while his associations with countrymen Marcos Rojo and Angel Di Maria would make any transfer that much easier.

With Valdes' departure looming, United continue to address this summer's issues in a swift and pragmatic manner, quickly solving another potential concern with Romero's imminent capture.