United close on £17m deal for Barca midfield maestro Thiago after agreeing personal terms on £5m-a-year deal



Manchester United are on the verge of signing Barcelona midfield star Thiago Alcantara in a £17million deal.



The Premier League champions have stolen a march on rivals Manchester City by agreeing personal terms of £5m-a-year with Thiago, 22, and his father Mazinho.



They still have to finalise a deal with Barcelona and sources say that it is unlikely there will be any announcement on Friday, but discussions between the two clubs will continue over the weekend.



Incoming? Thiago Alcantara would significantly strengthen Manchester United's midfield

Thiago presents Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (R) with a signed shirt after Span's Under 21 European Championship triumph

Thiago is seen as one of the rising stars of Spanish football and underlined his growing reputation by scoring a hat-trick in his country’s triumph over Italy in the European Under-21 Championship Final earlier this week.



But he has grown increasingly frustrated over his lack of opportunities at the Nou Camp despite assurances from Barca that they see him as a future leader of their team.

Talented: Barcelona hoped the midfielder would become a key player for them in the future Retired: United need a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes

He was first recommended to United by the club’s chief scout Martin Ferguson three years ago, and new Old Trafford boss David Moyes has also been a long-term admirer during his time at Everton.

