Man Utd transfer plans enter crunch phase as chief lands in UK for Fred talks

Galatasaray vice-president Erden Timur is understood to have flown to England on Wednesday night in a bid to push through the signing of Manchester United midfielder Fred. The combative 30-year-old Brazilian is top of the Turkish giants’ summer shortlist after they wrapped up the acquisitions of Wilfried Zaha and Mauro Icardi and Old Trafford chiefs are willing to do business with their European counterparts.

United triggered a one-year extension clause within Fred’s contract last season and are now demanding a figure of £20million in order to agree to a sale.

Fred stayed behind in Manchester for United’s pre-season tour of the United States due to ‘personal reasons’ but he is now thought to be heading closer to the exit door after five rollercoaster years at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils are conscious that they need to generate some extra cash through sales in order to continue their summer spending having just lodged an opening verbal proposal for Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund.

Ex-Shakhtar Donetsk star Fred has been identified as one of their most marketable assets and United have already rebuffed an opening offer from Galatasaray just over two weeks ago.

The bid is believed to have fallen way short of United’s valuation but now they are ready to try again and there is a sense face-to-face discussions with the player’s reps to sell the project are imminent.

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That’s because Galatasaray chief Timur is believed to have landed at Leeds Bradford Airport this evening as the Turkish champions begin to up the ante in their pursuit of Fred.

Fulham also held initial discussions earlier in the transfer window but they have also been reluctant to match United’s asking price which is considered steep for a player in the final year of his contract.

Fred was spotted talking to Fulham boss Marco Silva outside Old Trafford after United’s 2-1 final-day victory over the Cottagers in the Premier League last season.

Other clubs including teams from Saudi Arabia have also shown tentative interest but they are yet to submit formal proposals.

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United are also considering a move for Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat but their interest is not believed to be as advanced as reported in Italy.

The Morocco international, who excelled at the World Cup in Qatar as the Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals, was left behind by La Viola for their pre-season trip to Belgrade earlier this week.

He is currently training alone away from his team-mates with Fiorentina now anticipating a sale after signing Arthur Melo on loan with an option to buy.

Fiorentina want around £25m for the 26-year-old defensive lynchpin who played under Ten Hag as a youngster at FC Utrecht in Holland.

Elsewhere, Eric Bailly is understood to be close to joining ex-team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Alex Telles at Al Nassr.

The Ivorian defender was excluded from United’s travelling squad for the USA tour as he is not part of Ten Hag’s plans for the 2023/24 season.

Nottingham Forest are continuing to chase the signing of goalkeeper Dean Henderson after landing Anthony Elanga on a permanent deal.

Henderson is currently with the United squad in Texas but is expected to seal a return to the City Ground upon return to the UK following his loan spell with the Tricky Trees last season.

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