United close to di Maria deal with Paris Saint-Germain set to buy Argentine winger for £44m

it is a significant drop on the £60m British record fee that United paid Real Madrid for the Argentinean last August and means that his disappointing stay at Old Trafford has cost the club in the region of £25m in transfer deficit and wages.

However, United will be satisfied with the deal after PSG originally offered just £29m. Chief executive Woodward is now expected to press the button on the £22m transfer of Barcelona wide man Pedro.

Van Gaal confessed he did not know the whereabouts of Di Maria in his press conference following United's 2-0 loss to PSG in their final American tour match on Wednesday night.

Asked why Di Maria hadn't joined the tour, he said: 'I don't want to answer that but you can keep asking.' 

Then asked where Di Maria actually was, the United manager added: 'Maybe you know where he is. I don't know. 

'This is a process and we won't say anything until the end.'

His PSG counterpart Laurent Blanc said on Thursday morning: 'You know negotiations are ongoing but both are big clubs and as such that can be difficult.

'But we feel we are close to the end.'  

Asked if his club had been given permission to talk to di Maria and if that could explain the player's failure to join United's tour, Blanc refused to be drawn.

'That is a question you need to ask Manchester United,' he said.

The money brought in from di Maria’s sale will fund the possible purchase of Barcelona forward Pedro.

Manchester United have yet to make a bid for the rapid Spaniard but the Old Trafford club know the player is available with his buyout clause at £22m. 

(dailymail.co.uk)