Manchester United continues to target Barcelona's Pedro (L). (Photo : Reuters)
Manchester United are close to acquiring Spanish winger Pedro from FC Barcelona after officials from both sides reportedly agreed on a transfer fee of £22 million, as per Daily Mail Online.
If everything goes smoothly, then the 28-year-old Spain international might already suit up for Louis van Gaal in their Premier League opener versus Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
However, there are speculations that Barça coach Luis Enrique is intending to let him play in the team's UEFA Super Cup meeting with Spanish club Sevilla FC on August 11 at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, Georgia, which means van Gaal will get a hold of his new forward sometime next week.
Football analysts believe that the arrival of Pedro at the Old Trafford will strengthen van Gaal's frontline by leaps and bounds. Pairing him with fellow new recruit Memphis Depay and team captain Wayne Rooney would give the Red Devils the same formidable three-striker offense implemented by Barça with Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez, which is the same thing to be enjoyed by French champions Paris Saint-Germain with Ángel Di María, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Edinson Cavani.
ESPN indicated that Barcelona had already accepted their fate of losing Pedro this upcoming La Liga season. The Santa Cruz de Tenerife native wanted more playing time, but Enrique could not provide him much as he was playing behind the trio of superstars mentioned above.
With United, Pedro will be utilized more because of the departure of van Gaal's former strikers Di María, Robin van Persie, and Radamel Falcao. Plus his potential that had long been kept silent would more likely be unleashed this time around.
