Manchester United Transfer News: John Stones Swap Eyed, Angel Di Maria Rumours

Manchester United are prepared to offer a player-plus-cash deal in their bid to land Everton defender John Stones, while Angel Di Maria's exit saga looks set to reach its climax as he gets closer to a move to Paris.

Manager Louis van Gaal is hoping the offer of Jonny Evans plus cash will satisfy the Toffees, according to the Mirror's John Cross, who asserted the race for Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos is over:

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United boss Louis van Gaal, who has missed out on long-term target Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, is still in the market for a new centre-half.

They have yet to make a formal approach but have made discreet enquiries about Stones, 21, as the bidding war hots up. Chelsea have already had two offers turned down but are confident that the England prospect wants to move to ­Stamford Bridge.

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As Cross details, Everton this week turned down a second bid from Chelsea worth £26 million, with Blues boss Jose Mourinho seeking to find the heir to John Terry's Stamford Bridge throne.

However, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright is maintaining a stubborn stance regarding Stones' availability after Sky Sports News HQ reported the youngster is "not for sale:"

Evans is now the most senior defender at Old Trafford, having joined Manchester United's academy in 2004, but his place in the Van Gaal regime has been thrown into doubt.

Injuries and competition limited the Northern Ireland international to just 14 Premier League appearances last term, and ESPN's Alex Shaw views neither him nor Phil Jones as a long-term fixture at the club:

Toffees manager Roberto Martinez may well prefer to get his hands on an immediate centre-back replacement if Stones were to be sold, but England international Stones is a highly valued asset at present.

Everton and United have enjoyed a good relationship in the past, with Tom Cleverley, Darron Gibson and Tim Howard some of the more recent examples of players moving from Manchester to Merseyside.

Liverpool writer Richard Buxton believes Stones to be a part of the "English premium" contingent, likening his move to that of Raheem Sterling's recent switch from Anfield to the Etihad Stadium:

Former Barnsley starlet Stones is poised for a decisive season at Goodison Park. With Sylvain Distin having moved to Bournemouth, he and Phil Jagielka look set to make up Martinez's first-choice central-defensive partnership.

Manchester United are looking to spoil those plans, however, and hope the offer of Evans moving in the opposite direction will help them stand out from Stones' fellow suitors.

Angel Di Maria to Sign PSG Contract 'Next Week'

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United are ready to cut their losses and accept a £15 million reduction on Di Maria after it surfaced a sale has been agreed with Paris Saint-Germain.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson sources French newspaper L'Equipe, reporting a €63 million (£44 million) will be concluded "next week":

Laurent Blanc's side face Lyon in the 2015 Trophee des Champions on Saturday before preparing to open their Ligue 1 title defence against Lille on August 7.

Johnson added Di Maria will undergo his PSG medical on Monday as his Old Trafford tenure gradually draws to a sour close:

The Red Devils were hoping their Argentina international could put a disappointing first campaign in the Premier League behind him and recapture his Real Madrid heights this term.

However, Di Maria's fate looked sealed when he failed to join his team-mates on their tour of the United States, with Van Gaal quoted by the Irish Independent, saying even he had no idea where the player was:

"I don't know where he is. You can ask that every week but I don't answer that question."

The incident incurred a fine of two weeks of his wages (£360,000), according to Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star, but the result has seen him land the Old Trafford departure he so actively sought.

Manchester United forked out £59.7 million for the South American 12 months ago, but the £15 million shortfall may be considered more acceptable than having a wantaway asset among the squad ranks.