Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Gaitan Deal Done For €25m Plus Two Players, Claim Portuguese Press

Manchester United has all but sealed the transfer for Benfica star Nicolas Gaitan, according to O Jogo.

United's interest in the Argentinian attacking midfielder has been known for a long time but the stumbling block appeared to be the €45 million release clause in Gaitan's contract. However, the Portuguese daily sports newspaper reports that a fee of €25 million has been agreed with the rest of the money being made up with the inclusion of two United players in part-exchange.

The players speculated to be heading the other way include Federico Macheda, Davide Petrucci and Bebe.

The deal has reportedly been negotiated by Portuguese super-agent Jorge Medes, who has close-links with both clubs. Mendes also represented Nani and Bebe, somewhat controversially, when they moved to United.

Gaitan has been linked with a move to Old Trafford ever since impressing Sir Alex Ferguson as Benfica registered two draws against United in the Champions League group phase earlier in the season. The 24-year-old Argentina international has scored three times this season and contributed five assists.

It is being reported that Gaitan will sign a contract for at least five years when the deal is complete.

That transfer could still be some way from being announced, however, with the complication of two United players having to agree to a deal with Benfica.

Bebe being part of the transfer would make sense. The Portuguese forward made headlines with a $12 million move to Old Trafford after a meteoric rise from the Portuguese thrid division. But the 21-year-old looked out of his depth for a large part of his limited playing time last season and has since moved on-loan Besitkas when he suffered a serious injury.

Federico Macheda could also find himself leaving Old Trafford come the summer. The Italian striker burst onto the scene by scoring a crucial goal on his debut as a 17-year-old, but has since failed to progress as many expected. The 20-year-old had been on-loan at QPR for the second half of the season.

The other player linked to being part of the deal, Davide Petrucci is an Italian 20-year-old midfielder, who has yet to make his debut for the first team.