Manchester United Encouraged to Complete £48m Deal for Real Madrid Midfielder Angel Di Maria

Manchester United appears to be in pole position to secure midfielder Angel Di Maria, with reports in Spain suggesting Real Madrid are just waiting a £48m bid from the Premier League giants to complete his sale.

Following the arrivals of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw earlier in the summer, United boss Louis Van Gaal is reportedly planning to complete the overhaul of his squad with a centre-back, midfielder Arturo Vidal and a winger, with both Di Maria and Juan Cuadrado mentioned.

Van Gaal recently hinted he is keen to have the Argentina player in the squad as the current set-up needs a footballer with his profile.

"At this moment, we have five number nines and four number 10s – and we don't have any wingers to give us attacking width. Or, I should say, we don't have wingers of the highest level, like Ronaldo or Di Maria or somebody like that," he said.

United have reportedly been monitoring Di Maria since earlier this summer but Paris Saint Germain were said to be leading the race to secure his services due to the fact the winger wants to play Champions League football.

However, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi recently pulled out of the proposed deal as they cannot afford Real Madrid demands in order to comply with Uefa Financial Fair Play regulations.

"We discussed Angel Di Maria with Real Madrid. He was very expensive and we have stopped discussions," he said.

And according to Spanish newspaper Marca, this new scenario leaves Manchester United as the front runners to secure his services – as the Premier League giants are the only real option around the world able to meet Real Madrid's £48m demands.

Even though Di Maria's first choice was to move to PSG, he has now been forced to consider other alternatives and according to the Spanish newspapers, his only options are to be a substitute at the Santiago Bernabeu or move to the Premier League and Old Trafford.

In this sense, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is more than happy to keep him in the squad but the Spanish club officials are reportedly ready to part ways with him should United meet his £48m valuation.

Nevertheless, following the arrivals of both James Rodriguez and Toni Kross, the Argentinian doesn't appear to have a place in the Champions League winners' starting line-up and indeed he did not play during the Super Cup final victory over Sevilla on 11 August.