Manchester United have successfully agreed personal terms with Barcelona centre-back Yerry Mina but are still negotiating a fee with the Catalan club, according to reports. Jose Mourinho had made Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Toby Alderweireld his No.1 choice in the heart of the defence but United have struggled to agree on a valuation, with Spurs demanding £75m. While United are still hopeful that they might reach a compromise over Alderweireld, they have pressed ahead with an offer for Mina in the meantime.
And according to sources, United have already agreed a five-year contract with the Colombian. Mina will earn £7.5million-a-year – or around £145,000-a-week before tax – which is a significant improvement on his salary at Barca and far more than rival suitors Everton can offer.
The transfer is depend on a fee being agreed, with the two clubs still £5m apart, and United will only confirm the deal once they are certain that Alderweireld is no longer an option. Mina struggled to make an impact at Camp Nou after joining in January, with Ernesto Valverde unconvinced by the towering Colombian.
He had a superb tournament for his national team at the World Cup, however, notably scoring against England in the last 16, and his stock has risen considerably as a result. The 23-year-old cost Barca just £11.5m a few months ago, but they now hope to net almost four times that amount after slapping a £40m valuation on him as Mourinho gets desperate in his hunt for reinforcements in central defence.
Everton new boy Lucas Digne had urged Barcelona star Yerry Mina to turn down Manchester United. The Red Devils have recently ramped up their interest in the Colombian after baulking at Spurs’ £75million valuation of Toby Alderweireld. Everton had been leading the race for the 23-year-old but Mina is believed to be keen on a move to Old Trafford if United meet Barcelona’s £40m valuation. However, Digne – who completed his move from Barcelona to Everton this week – has admitted he’s urged Mina to follow him to Goodison Park.
‘I hope to see him here but I don’t know really! He’ll choose the best for his career and we’ll see,’ said Digne. ‘I said to him to come but we’ll see. Really I don’t know. He’s a good player and a good guy.’
United have just five days left of the transfer window to sign a centre-back and Mina’s move to the Theatre of Dreams could see Marcos Rojo join Everton instead. The Toffees have expressed an interest in the Argentine but fear they’ll be unable to match his £90,000-a-week wages.
Meanwhile,Paris Saint-Germain join race to sign Everton target Marcos Rojo from Manchester United. Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Everton target Marcos Rojo as Jose Mourinho is keen to offload him from Manchester United. According to sources, Marco Silva wants to bring Rojo to Goodison Park but the Toffees are facing stiff competition from PSG who just joined the bidding war with Marseille and Zenit St Petersburg.
The Argentina international has been deemed surplus to requirements and Mourinho is willing to let him go for the right price as he is looking to bolster his defence before Thursday’s transfer deadline.
The defender has spent four years with the Manchester giants and agreed on a new long-term contract last season. However, Rojo suffered a cruciate ligament injury last term and couldn’t play a big enough part in the team’s efforts to reclaim the Premier League’s top spot.
He has already fallen behind the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling in the pecking order and has been told he can leave.