Manchester United Transfer News

Manchester United have come to a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid superstar James Rodriguez, according to latest reports. Manchester United have long been linked with a move for the Colombian international, who is clearly unhappy with life at the Santiago Bernabeu. He has been unable to stake a claim in the first-team under the management of Zinedine Zidane. Despite costing the club £63 million back when he moved to the Spanish capital in 2014, Madrid do not see him as a regular first-team player. Karim Benzema continues to be preferred up front even when he has not been scoring regularly.

Rodriguez caught the attention of several top clubs just prior to the World Cup 2014. However, Monaco were able to sign him just a season before his transfer to Real Madrid. Now, he may be on the move once again with Manchester United very keen on bringing few marquee names to Old Trafford in Summer. The Red Devils are likely to lose Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney. However, it is believed that the pre-contract agreement will allow United to sign Rodriguez only if Wayne Rooney is not at the club.

Rooney has been widely linked with a move to the Chinese Super League, although he has been recently stating about his wish to stay at Old Trafford for more years to come. However, it is unlikely that United will retain a player who earns £250,000 per week without playing regularly. Allowing Rooney to leave the club will make it easier for United to fit Rodriguez into the wage bill.

A few weeks ago, Real Madrid were in negotiations with Manchester United over the possibility of being involved in a swap deal with David de Gea and James Rodriguez. Yet, this proposal seems to have fallen through with De Gea featuring in the club’s unveiling of the away kit, and it strongly hints that the goalkeeper would remain at Old Trafford next season. Hence, United are now free to move ahead and sign Rodriguez, who has started only 12 league games this season. Yet, he has demonstrated his quality by managing to score 8 goals and create six for his teammates in the 20 league appearances.

If Rodriguez decides to leave Real Madrid, he may not have too many regrets after having won the Champions League once and the FIFA Club World Cup twice in his time at the Spanish club.