Manchester United agree £13.1m fee with Hoffenheim for Roberto Firmino

Manchester United are closing in on signing Hoffenheim midfielder Roberto Firmino, according to talkSPORT.

The Brazil international has been linked with a move away from the Bundesliga outfit, with United and their derby rivals Manchester City also interested in his services. However, it is believed that the Red Devils have agreed a fee with Hoffenheim for the transfer of their player.

The 23-year-old is a versatile player, who can play behind the striker, either on the flanks or in the central midfield position. He scored 10 goals and managed 12 assists in all competitions during 2014/15 season.

Firmino is valued around £13.1m ($20.3m) by the German club and United have reportedly met their asking price in bringing him to Old Trafford. Louis van Gaal prefers players who have the ability to play in a variety of positions and the South American fits the bill.

The midfielder's contract with his current employers runs down in 2017. His agent Roger Wittmann earlier admitted a summer transfer is a possibility if potential suitors agree a fee with Hoffenheim.

"When we extended the contract, we agreed that a winter transfer [in January 2015] would not become an issue," Wittmann told Bild.

"We agreed that Roberto can leave the club in the summer [of 2015], should Hoffenheim agree a transfer fee with a club."

Firmino's representative also went on to suggest that his client could leave Hoffenheim and join a new league in the summer transfer window.

"I don't rule out that he'll stay at Hoffenheim, and I also don't rule out that he'll stay in the Bundesliga. But basically you have to expect a transfer abroad," Firmino's agent explained.

Firmino's club form has seen him make it to Carlos Dunga's squad for the 2015 Copa America. He will be hoping to showcase his talent during the South American championship in Chile and help Brazil bounce back from the drubbing defeat to Germany in the 2014 Fifa World Cup on home soil.