Manchester United Transfer News: Pedro to Pick Red Devils over Manchester City

Barcelona's Pedro is reportedly set to choose a move to Manchester United over a switch to Manchester City, as the Spaniard nears his departure from the Camp Nou.

A long-term target of United's, Pedro has also been linked with the Sky Blues as a back-up should they fail in their pursuit of Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne, per Chris Wheeler of the Daily Mail.

However, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t Colin Harvey of the Daily Star) reports that the Spaniard is set to reject City's interest and choose Old Trafford instead, with Pedro having made a verbal agreement to join United.

Apparently a £21.5 million deal will be completed in "the next few days," United having submitted a "formal written offer worth £17.8 million up front with £3.6 million included in add-ons," per Mundo Deportivo (h/t Harvey).

The Red Devils may have to re-negotiate their offer as Barca are eager for Pedro's £21.5 million release clause to be paid in full, but the 28-year-old seems destined for United.

Following Barca's 5-4 extra-time victory over Sevilla in Tuesday's UEFA Super Cup—and despite having scored the winner—Pedro seemed conspicuously unenthusiastic in his celebrations, per Eurosport.

He was hailed by a number of his teammates after the Tbilisi clash, with Javier Mascherano particularly eloquent in urging Pedro to remain with the Blaugrana, per Spanish newspaper Marca: "Hopefully Pedro will stay at Barca. He's one of those players who are made for special moments; he's been touched by a magic wand. He oozes class and thank God he's ours now."

However, the forward is clearly unsatisfied with his current lot under manager Luis Enrique, as he has been consistently sidelined of late behind Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi.

Though he denied wanting to leave Barca after the Super Cup, it is clear that he is unhappy, especially after he was left out of the starting XI against Sevilla despite Neymar's absence through illness, per TV3 (h/t Toni Juanmarti of Spanish newspaper Sport):

"

No, the answer is no [I don't want to leave]. It's not a situation of money, but minutes. I'm ambitious, I always want the best, we will see what happens. Whether I go or stay, I'll always be with this team. 

I was very angry that I didn't start the game. I was disappointed because I had more options without Neymar there.

"

Pedro will almost certainly play a key role alongside Memphis Depay and Wayne Rooney in the United attack should he make the switch to United, especially with Angel Di Maria having recently departed Old Trafford, per Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell:

It is no surprise that he is reportedly set to choose the Red Devils over City, as a move to the Etihad Stadium could see the World Cup winner underused in a similar fashion as at the Camp Nou. 

United manager Louis van Gaal, though, is in need of added firepower in attack, and Pedro could be a vital addition to his squad in the club's bid for Premier League glory.

Pedro has spent almost his entire career at Barcelona, having joined the club as a youth player in 2004, but his long-standing relationship with the Catalan giants looks set to come to an end soon.