Manchester United agree a deal to sign Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan for £20m plus Fabio and Federico Macheda

In demand: Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan (left) battles with
Chelsea's John Obi Mikel in the Champions League

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign the Benfica midfielder Nicolás Gaitán with both Fabio da Silva and Federico Macheda moving to the Portuguese club as part of the terms.

The details of the deal are likely to see Fabio going only on a season’s long loan while Macheda’s transfer could be a permanent one, with Manchester United then reducing some of the costs of acquiring the highly-rated Gaitán.

Although the figures involved are unlikely to be disclosed, and the deal will not be announced until the season is over, it appears United are valuing Gaitán at more than £20 million plus the players.

While it will be interesting to see where he fits into Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans United have been tracking the Argentina international for some time and are now understood to have made their move for a summer transfer. Gaitan, who can play as an attacking midfielder or left-sided winger, caught the eye in Benfica’s Champions League campaign this season when they faced both United and Chelsea.

The 24 year-old has a £38 million release clause in his contract and it had been thought that Benfica were attempting to hold out for the full amount to be paid. However, that was always going to be an unrealistic valuation for Gaitán, despite his undoubted talent which has also attracted the likes of Inter Milan and Paris St-Germain, and United have been in talks for several months to try to structure a deal.

Macheda, the 20-year-old Italian striker, is on loan to Queens Park Rangers but has failed to make an impression after a handful of appearances and has returned to United after suffering an ankle injury. It would now appear his days at Old Trafford are numbered with Macheda a makeweight in the deal while, more interestingly, Fabio also appears set to be included.

The inclusion of players would be an attraction for Benfica who have to pay Gaitan’s former club, Boca Juniors, 20 per cent of any transfer fee. United had hoped to agree a deal in January but will now conclude the transfer in June.

It had been thought that United might try to include Bebe as well as Macheda but the choice of Fabio has helped persuade Benfica to conclude negotiations. Gaitan is understood to be represented by the Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes who has close links with United having taken the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani to the club.