Manchester United want to complete the double signing of Fred, the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld, before the World Cup starts next month.

United opened talks with Spurs over Alderweireld, the Belgian defender, yesterday, but the transfer of Fred is likely to be more straightforward.

Shakhtar are resigned to losing Fred and have already lined up Corinthians’ Maycon, a young Brazilian midfielder, as a replacement for the 25-year-old Brazil international, who has his heart set on a move to Old Trafford.

Fred, who has five years left on his contract with Shakhtar, is likely to cost United around £52 million.

“We will sell Fred to a good and strong club, do not doubt it,” the Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov said. “It will