'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
With Jose Mourinho having hinted at a lack of squad depth being the primary reason behind his side's dip over the past month or so, Ed Woodward and co. are working furiously to appease their manager and get someone in to strengthen the squad.
As per the good folk over at the Metro, that someone is said to Paris Saint-Germain's Lucas Moura. While we had earlier reported that United were closing to sealing a deal with the pacy Brazilian winger, the Metro now suggests that a deal has been agreed with Lucas with the Brazilian willing to move to Old Trafford
In case you didn't know...
Lucas and United have a history, with the English side losing out to PSG in the summer of 2012, when the then 20-year-old was snapped up by the French giants for a little over €43 million.
The fact that his value has depreciated over the past five years, though, is as clear an indication as any that the Brazilian really hasn't hit the highs he was predicted to hit back in the day when he was strutting his stuff for Brazilian giants Sao Paulo.
The heart of the matter
With an embarrassment of attacking riches at his disposal, Lucas is out of favour with Unai Emery at the moment - playing only 72 minutes of the 2017-18 Ligue 1 season despite having the most fruitful season of his senior career in 2016-17, when he played 52 games and scored 18 times - a great record for a right-winger cut in the traditional mould.
A move to United would also revitalize his almost non-existent (at the moment) chances of making it to the Brazil team for Russia 2018; if he were to impress under Jose Mourinho, Tite might just take his case into consideration.
Video
Here's the very best of Lucas:
On his day, the lad is absolutely unstoppable
Author's Take
PSG are the ones demanding the €39 million (or £35 million) for their man, while United are either looking for a loan in Jan + buy in August option; or a cheaper rate. It is understood that the two clubs are in discussion, and United are confident in swinging things their way given PSG's requirement to sell more players to comply with FFP regulations after their summer 'splurge'.
Lucas would add a relatively fresh dimension to United's attack - which currently lacks a natural right-winger - and with his motivation at an all-time high, and the price relatively cheap, this might just be a gamble worth taking.
