Spanish news source AS has claimed that Manchester United are looking to tie up a deal for Thiago Alcantara within the next week.
Several reports earlier this week suggested that the Barcelona midfielder had agreed terms with the Old Trafford club ahead of an official switch in the transfer window.
David Moyes is set to start his job as Manchester United boss officially on Monday, which means he could be keen to get possibly the club’s biggest transfer deal out of the way quickly to focus on other areas of the squad.
There have also been widespread reports suggesting Barcelona will try and get the Spanish Under-21 captain to commit himself to the club, which reduces the amount of time United have to negotiate.
Several high profile Barca officials have urged Thiago to reconsider the switch, most notably central defender Gerard Pique.
“There is a possibility that he can go, but we have to convince him that the best place for him is the club,” Pique told press reporters.
The apparent self imposed deadline would also allow United to recover, readjust and find other targets if it does subsequently turn out that United are not able to pull off a deal for Thiago within the timeframe they have apparently given themselves.
It may also be evidence that David Moyes is looking to back up recent comments he made about believing that he is going to be judged at Manchester United based on the players he signed and the teams he creates.
“You have to earn your stars when dealing with players – And your recruiting as a manager can determine whether you keep your job,” he was quoted in the Daily Mail.
There have been serious questions over United’s ability and potential in the market now that Sir Alex Ferguson has retired.
A deal for Thiago, if secured quickly, would show to the club’s Premier League rivals that Moyes means business and he already has that ability to talk players into joining United based on the club’s history and reputation.
Thiago is an extremely talented player so it makes perfect sense that Barcelona would try to keep him.
He’s a world class midfielder with an average passing success rate of over 90% based on La Liga games last season.
The next few days and the immediate start of the transfer window could make or break this deal but there is just as much going in United’s favour as there is moving against them.
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