Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Barcelona star Pedro by agreeing to meet the £22m release clause for the player, according to reports.
After a summer of transfer activity in which the Red Devils have signed Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Memphis Depay, United manager Louis van Gaal hinted at a ‘surprise forward transfer’.
The Guardian believes that signing may well be Pedro, and after the star’s release clause was lowered to £22m, van Gaal is ready to meet that valuation.
Pedro was strongly tipped to be heading to Chelsea, as well as being in talks with Arsenal last summer, but Chelsea may now be looking at other targets.
He became the first player to score in six different official competitions in one season, followed by teammate Lionel Messi. Pedro achieved the feat in the 2009-10 season.
Those competitions were La Liga, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, and the Club World Cup.
United need some cover on the goalscoring front after Robin Van Persie’s move to Fenerbahce, and with the new signings, which may well now include Pedro, may enable them to challenge for Premier League supremacy once again.
by Steve Osborne
gunners for ever