Sridhar Bhamidi
Manchester United look to be moving closer to their fourth signing of the summer as right-back Serge Aurier seems to be ready for a move. The Red Devils are reported to have already agreed to personal terms with the Paris Saint-Germain fullback and all it remains is to agree on terms with the club.
Fallout Of Neymar’s Sale
As reported by The Mirror, according to French publication L’Equipe, the Parisian club is looking to raise funds to balance the purchase of Neymar. The Brazilian forward was signed in a world record bid of €222million from Barcelona last week. The club needs to balance its books in order to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
That means some of the players would be offloaded immediately. Topping that list is Serge Aurier followed by midfielder Grzegorz Kyrchowiak and Blaise Matuidi. The 24-year-old is valued at £27million but it is not the transfer fee that is a hindrance to this transfer.
Pending Visa Issues
The Ivory Coast international is currently banned from entering the UK after he was found guilty of assaulting a police officer outside a Paris nightclub in September. In fact, the former Lens and Toulouse defender had to miss a Champions League game at Arsenal last October when border control authorities revoked his Visa. United officials want to check his status before proceeding with a bid.
The defender has already lodged an appeal against the conviction in French courts which is due to be heard soon. The proceedings could determine which way United’s £90,000-a-week deal will sway.
Behind the scenes, it is super-agent Mino Raiola who has been acting as a go-between for the club, with the player’s agent Stephane Courbis. Raiola who boasts of Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku among his clientele is reported to have worked out an outline agreement.
A Controversial Figure
Aurier had a very controversial time at PSG. He was banned by the club for criticising his then-manager Laurent Blanc on social media. He was suspended by the UEFA for three matches for using foul language against referee Bjorn Kuipers.
It would be interesting to see how Aurier will settle down at United considering how tough a task master Mourinho is.
What do you think?
