Manchester United look to have finally won the race to sign Sao Paulo's Lucas Moura with reports claiming the Brazilian wonderkid will tie up a £30million move to Old Trafford in the next 48 hours.
The 19-year-old is understood to be undergoing a medical in Manchester today after being granted permission to leave Brazil's Olympic squad to complete the formalities of the deal.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has taken matters into his own hands as the transfer saga dragged on opting to stay behind as his United side jetted to Norway yesterday for their pre-season friendly with Valerenga.
United's official website says Ferguson absence is due to the Scot being on "other club business" and reports insist that is to oversee the arrival of Lucas.
Reports in Italy on Thursday had claimed Internazionale had been struck a deal with Sao Paulo, with Lucas left to just agree personal terms with the Italian giants.
However, the Brazilian giants moved quickly to dismissed the reports, with vice-president Paulo de Jesus Lopes claiming that they have held official talks only with United.
"I'm not aware of this information," he told Lancenet. "I was with (Sao Paulo president) Juvenal Juvenicio (Wednesday and Thursday).
"We sat only to negotiate with Manchester United, but their offer was not good enough."
Lucas' agent Wagner Ribeiro had hinted a fortnight ago that United were the Brazilian's prefered destination despite interest from the likes of Inter, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
"He told me to keep negotiating when I talked about Manchester United's interest," Ribeiro told Radio Globo. "It's a great offer. If it was an [impossible to refuse] one, he would leave."
United failed with a previous £27m offer last month, but after Lopes admitted his side were still open to negotiations they have returned to seal a deal for one of the brighest talents in South America.
Lucas' former Sao Paulo team-mate Fernandinho, who recently joined UAE gaints Al Jazira, has backed his compatriot to be a huge success in the English game.
“Concerning Lucas I know him very well, his potential,” said Fernandinho. “He is a very high class player even despite his age, he has a lot of determination, he has great talent and a lot of skill. He is a fast player he can decide a game at any time even in the Olympic Games.
With Lucas poised to sign it is also being claimed Ferguson will also step up his attempts to sign wantaway Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie this week.
United have seen one bid rejected by Arsenal for the Dutch striker, last season's PFA Player of the Year, but are quietly confident they will beat near neighbours Manchester City and Juventus to his signature.
Van Persie has made clear his intention to quit the Gunners after refusing to sign a new deal with his existing contract due to expire next summer.
Leading bookmakers continue to make United favourites for his signature and reports claim Ferguson is now readying a new bid for Dutchman nearer to Arsenal's £20m valuation.
The 19-year-old is understood to be undergoing a medical in Manchester today after being granted permission to leave Brazil's Olympic squad to complete the formalities of the deal.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has taken matters into his own hands as the transfer saga dragged on opting to stay behind as his United side jetted to Norway yesterday for their pre-season friendly with Valerenga.
United's official website says Ferguson absence is due to the Scot being on "other club business" and reports insist that is to oversee the arrival of Lucas.
Reports in Italy on Thursday had claimed Internazionale had been struck a deal with Sao Paulo, with Lucas left to just agree personal terms with the Italian giants.
However, the Brazilian giants moved quickly to dismissed the reports, with vice-president Paulo de Jesus Lopes claiming that they have held official talks only with United.
"I'm not aware of this information," he told Lancenet. "I was with (Sao Paulo president) Juvenal Juvenicio (Wednesday and Thursday).
"We sat only to negotiate with Manchester United, but their offer was not good enough."
Lucas' agent Wagner Ribeiro had hinted a fortnight ago that United were the Brazilian's prefered destination despite interest from the likes of Inter, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
"He told me to keep negotiating when I talked about Manchester United's interest," Ribeiro told Radio Globo. "It's a great offer. If it was an [impossible to refuse] one, he would leave."
United failed with a previous £27m offer last month, but after Lopes admitted his side were still open to negotiations they have returned to seal a deal for one of the brighest talents in South America.
Lucas' former Sao Paulo team-mate Fernandinho, who recently joined UAE gaints Al Jazira, has backed his compatriot to be a huge success in the English game.
“Concerning Lucas I know him very well, his potential,” said Fernandinho. “He is a very high class player even despite his age, he has a lot of determination, he has great talent and a lot of skill. He is a fast player he can decide a game at any time even in the Olympic Games.
With Lucas poised to sign it is also being claimed Ferguson will also step up his attempts to sign wantaway Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie this week.
United have seen one bid rejected by Arsenal for the Dutch striker, last season's PFA Player of the Year, but are quietly confident they will beat near neighbours Manchester City and Juventus to his signature.
Van Persie has made clear his intention to quit the Gunners after refusing to sign a new deal with his existing contract due to expire next summer.
Leading bookmakers continue to make United favourites for his signature and reports claim Ferguson is now readying a new bid for Dutchman nearer to Arsenal's £20m valuation.
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