Manchester United: Red Devils close to completing move for Barcelona forward Pedro

Manchester United are reportedly close to completing the signing of Barcelona forward Pedro Rodriguez after the club sent emissaries to Spain on Monday (3 August) to finalise the deal, according to Spanish daily AS.

The Spanish international is keen on a move to England and his former club's president confirmed that the player has already informed his family and friends regarding his imminent departure from the Catalan giants.

Pedro has fallen down the pecking order following the arrival of Luis Suarez last summer and despite making 33 appearances in the La Liga last season, the Spaniard managed to complete the full 90 minutes on just eight occasions.

This has prompted the forward to seek a move away from the club, as he is concerned about his place in the Spanish national team for the 2016 European Championships in France.

The reigning European champions are reluctant to let the forward leave the club, but the manager has admitted that they will be powerless to stop him if interested clubs meet his €30m (£22m, $33.1m) valuation.

United are keen on signing the forward as Louis van Gaal is desperate to add some speed and creativity to his team's final third, but they will have to wait until after Barcelona's Uefa Super Cup clash against Sevilla, as Luis Enrique wants Pedro to provide cover for Lionel Messi and Neymar, who have only just returned to full training.

According to the Mirror, the Red Devils will wrap up the deal in the next 48 hours and are said to have offered Pedro a four-year deal with a further one-year option. But the 20-time English champions will have to meet the Catalans' valuation to land the Spanish international, who has been earmarked by Van Gaal as the perfect replacement for Angel Di Maria.

The Argentine international is on the verge of completing his move to Paris Saint-Germain, and according to the Daily Mail, the winger is in Qatar undergoing his medical to finalise his £44.4m ($69.2m) move to the French capital.