While negotiations for Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan (pictured) are ongoing, United have handed trials to a trio of Brazilian teenagers, according to reports.
While negotiations for Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan (pictured) are ongoing, United have handed trials to a trio of Brazilian teenagers, according to reports. Reuters

Reports in Portugal are suggesting that Manchester United are locked in negotiations with Benfica over long-term rumored target Nicolas Gaitan, according to Record, as reported by United's official Web site.

The story suggests that United are willing to pay €25million for the attacking midfielder, while Benfica are holding out for nearer to the €45million release-clause in his contract.

Gaitan excelled against United as Benfica claimed two draws against the Premier League champions in the group phase of this season's Champions League and progressed to the next round at United's expense.

A creative midfielder, Gaitan is the type of player that United have long chased to take some of the burden off of Wayne Rooney. Last summer it appeared that a deal was close for Inter's Wesley Sneijder, but the financial terms could not be agreed.

At 24, three years younger than Sneijder, Gaitan fits more handily into the strategy of investing in younger players outlined by the hierarchy at Old Trafford.

But a contract signed last October that runs until 2016 and includes the aforementioned buy-out clause, means United will have to splash out serious money to get the Argentinian.

In other United transfer rumors, it is being reported that the club have handed two-week trials to three teenagers from United's Brazilian feeder club, Desportivo Brazil, according to the Daily Mail.

The Mail features a picture of the youngsters in question--Lucas Evangelista, Bruno Gomes and Aguilar--in the director's box at Old Trafford last year during a visit to the club.

The three were a part of the Desportivo under-17 side that recently qualified for the AEGON Future Cup, which features the top youth sides from across the globe. The finals take place in Amsterdam next month.

Desportivo do not have a first team, with their sole goal to develop players.

Even if the trio were to sign, there is a long-way to go before they can even be thought about as potential first-team stars. Although, there is precedent for United successfully recruiting young Brazilian talent.

The Da Silva twins, Rafael and Fabio, were signed as teenagers before ever playing a game for their club Fluminense and have gone on to become first-team regulars.

Meanwhile, it is being reported in Belgium that young defender Ritchie De Laet, currently on loan at Norwich, could be targeted by Aston Villa in the summer, according to Manutd.com.

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