Jose Mourinho’s frustrating wait for a third signing is almost over as Manchester United move to the brink of completing a £40 million deal for Nemanja Matic.

The midfielder travelled to Manchester on Saturday after United agreed a fee with Chelsea that could reach £45 million. The Serbian ­underwent a medical on Sunday as he prepared to be reunited with Mourinho, under whom he won the Premier League title in 2014-15.

Asked if a deal was imminent, Mourinho told MUTV: “I’m waiting for news. I know he wants that very, very much and when a player wants very, very much the chance is bigger, the chance is bigger, so I think we have a chance.”

Matic, 29 on Tuesday, will be formally announced as a United player on Monday and could make his debut in Wednesday’s friendly against Sampdoria in Dublin. They then play Real Madrid in the European Super Cup in Skopje a week on Tuesday.

United beat Valerenga 3-0 in Sunday night’s friendly in Oslo. Marouane Fellaini gave United a first-half lead before substitutes Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay scored in the second half.