Man Utd transfer news and rumours: 'United in pole position to sign Benfica star Nicolas Gaitan'
Transfers: Latest news, rumours and gossip for Manchester United in 2015. Van Gaal faces tussle with Atletico Madrid to sign Argentine
Manchester United are ready to make another move to sign Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan.
Reports in Portugal are claiming United will battle it out with Atletico Madrid to sign the 27-year-old, who has been a target for United since 2011.
The Portuguese newspapers A Bola and O Jogo both claim that United are in pole position to sign Gaitan should they table a bid that matches Benfica's valuation of the player.
They also claim that a move to Old Trafford remains Gaitan's preferred option, with United ready to offer him better terms than Atletico.
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But a deal would appear to hinge on whether Angel Di Maria remains a United player next season. The club's record signing endured a horrible first season in English football and has been linked with a move away this summer, with Louis van Gaal saying that he would not stand in his way if he asked to leave.
However, some impressive performances in the Copa America in Chile have served as a reminder of Di Maria's qualities, and United are reluctant to write him off after just one year.
That could mean disappointment for Gaitan, who was first scouted by United in 2011. The club began talks with Benfica in November of that year, with the Portuguese demanding a fee of around £38million - the release clause in his contract at the time. Twenty per cent of that fee would be due to Gaitan's former club, Boca Juniors.