Rumours: Manchester United defender to leave for Galatasaray

Nemanja Vidic has been linked with Turkish side Galatasaray

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is set to be offered a lucrative deal by Turkish side Galatasaray later this week, according to The Daily Mail. However, Vidic’s agent has stated to the Manchester Evening Newsthat the player has not signed a contract with the Turkish giants.

The Serbian centre-back’s current deal expires in the summer and now looks increasingly likely to leave Old Trafford on a Bosman free. Vidic is permitted to discuss deals with foreign clubs and Galatasaray are poised to make an early move for the 32 year-old to add to their squad of global talent.

With huge resources at their disposal, the Turks are believed to be willing to offer Vidic a significant increase on his current £90,000 a week deal to lure him to the Turk Telekom Arena. Approaches for Chelsea’s John Terry and Arsenal’s Bacary Sagnaare also in the pipeline as Mancini looks to the Premier League for his latest recruitment drive.

Agent Muzzi Ozcan, who played a huge part in negotiating the deal that took former Manchester City boss Mancini to the Turkish side is reportedly due to fly to Istanbul later in the week to discuss the transfer. Enquiries were made about the possibility of completing a deal this month, but David Moyes has blocked any attempt as The Scot requires the experienced defender more than ever due to United’s recent run of poor form.

With a generous £3 million salary and mammoth £415,000 in bonuses per season, Vidic may well be convinced that a move to Turkey would be the best place to see out the twilight of his career.

Established stars Wesley Sneijder (£5.4 million) and Didier Drogba (£3.3 million) demonstrate that the club possesses a degree of European pedigree, but it is obvious the majority of players plying their trade in Turkey are present for the pay packet rather than prestige.