Manchester United have moved one step closer to completing a deal for Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara, after agreeing personal terms with the Spanish international.
Thiago is set to put pen to paper on a deal worth £5 million a year ($7.7 million), according to the Daily Mail, with a fee of around £17 million ($26.3 million) mooted.
The Spain midfielder, starred for the under-21 side in the finals of the UEFA Championships earlier this week, scoring a hat-trick in the final and leading his team to the title.
Thiago wants assured game time to have a chance of making it to the senior squad for the 2014 World Cup and Manchester United have always looked like the favorites to land the 22-year-old.
Widespread reports in the British press suggest Thiago is on the verge of a move, with just the final discussion between Barcelona and United remaining to be sorted out.
Thiago will be seen as a major signing for new manager David Moyes as he looks to make his mark in his first season at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, United veteran Rio Ferdinand has called the tough early run-in for United, where they face Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in their first five games of the English Premier League next season, as a "blessing in disguise."
"This will just really focus the guys and when we come back into preseason we know we have to hit the ground running," the former England international told the BBC.
"This could be a blessing in disguise for the new manager and for the squad.
"We don't think about the reaction if we start badly. We expect the results to go our way and to do well.
"We have a hard run of games but that is part and parcel of being a top footballer, you have to be ready at all times.
"If we finish that run of five or six games at the beginning of the season and we're in good shape, who knows what is possible."
Ferdinand was all praise for Moyes, and is not worried that the Scot has not won a single major trophy yet.
"You have to start somewhere. I never won anything before I came to Man United and in my first season we won the league," he said.
"I'd like to think David Moyes would be able to do the same thing. He's a football man, very passionate and just the right ingredient we needed at the club when Sir Alex Ferguson left.
"I'm sure the new manager will implement a little bit of his own style and culture into the squad.
"I think that will be a good thing and will freshen up the squad. Hopefully he will bring even more out of the players than before."
