Barcelona have reportedly flown to Brazil to seal a move for Gremio midfielder Arthur Melo which would come as a big blow for Manchester United, following their recent pursuit of the player. Some sources are claiming that the Catalans are yet to agree on a fee with the Brazilian club but has already reached an agreement with the player ahead of a potential switch in the summer of 2019.
Arthur, who is a long time Manchester United target, has a contract with Gremio until the winter of 2021 with the Brazilian team owning just 60% of his economic rights. Gremio’s president Romildo Bolzan has recently confirmed in an interview with the Brazilian media that the deal is yet to be finalised between the two clubs but there has been significant progress made in the past few weeks. Bolzan was quoted to have said, “Talks are ongoing and some progress have been made. Arthur will play for us for a few more months but right now there is no agreement [between Gremio and Barcelona] yet,”
With Melo set to join the Catalans in the near future, let’s take a look at three potential options for the Red Devils to consider in the summer.
Marco Verratti
The French midfielder has been a solid presence for Paris Saint-Germain in the past few seasons and has regularly featured for the Parisians this term. He has featured in 32 matches for PSG this season, scoring 2 goals and making 5 assists across all competitions. The 25-year-old has made a name for his defensive talents and also has a knack for scoring and creating goals. He will be an ideal asset under Jose Mourinho if he can convince the star to make a move to Old Trafford.
Arturo Vidal
The Chilean midfield enforcer has been in sensational form for Bayern Munich over the last few years. The 30-year-old has featured in 28 matches for the Bundesliga giants this season, scoring 6 goals while also providing 2 assists in all competitions. He is exactly the kind of player who can flourish at the heart of the United midfield if the Red Devils decided to opt for his services in the summer.
Saúl Ñíguez
The Atletico Madrid midfielder has enjoyed a brilliant campaign so far and has put in some dazzling displays for the La Liga outfit. The 23-year-old has played in 34 matches for the Madrid based side and has found the back of the net 4 times while providing 2 assists in all competitions. At 23, he still has his peak years ahead of him which Jose Mourinho’s side could look to make use of in the coming years.
