GOAL

Manchester United have moved a step closer to completing the £52.5 million ($70m) signing of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred, with the club confirming that agreement has been reached.

With a deal having been in the pipeline for some time, Goal confirmed on Monday that the Brazil international had arrived in England to undergo a medical.

Fred’s former manager at Shakhtar, Mircea Lucescu, then confirmed that a move had been made, with the 25-year-old taking a much-deserved step up onto a Premier League stage.

United have now announced that a big-money transfer is imminent, with the finishing touches being put to their first signing of the summer.

A statement released on the club’s official website read: “Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk for the transfer of Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos (Fred).”

United had been in the market for midfield reinforcements after seeing Michael Carrick head into retirement.

There is also much uncertainty when it comes to the future of Marouane Fellaini, with the Belgium international seemingly set for a move elsewhere as his contract runs down.

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The addition of Fred will help to plug those holes, with the South American a player being acquired for both the present and future.

He should still have his best years ahead of him, but boasts enough domestic, European and international experience to slip seamlessly into a star-studded United squad.

Lucescu said of his imminent arrival at Old Trafford: “I’m really pleased Fred has completed his transfer to Manchester United, I am proud of him.

“When I signed him at Shakhtar, Taison and Bernard were playing in his position.

“I transformed his position, giving him a more defensive role.”

Fred has earned eight caps for Brazil to date and will form part of their ranks at this summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.

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