It has been reported that Manchester United have agreed a fee with Torino for Matteo Darmian.
Talks between the two clubs have been ongoing for some time with the Italian club rejecting the first two bids that were put forward by United, but Torino have finally agreed to a £12.7million fee for their prized defender.
Darmian is a right-back by nature but has the versatility to play across the back line with experience at both centre-back and left-back and at 6ft offers a strong aerial presence something Louis Van Gaal has been craving for.
In November, he said that set pieces are "very difficult" due to the commanding height of the team before commenting "maybe you can advise me to buy tall players.”
Finding a new right-back has been one of the main priorities in this summer’s transfer window for United with Antonio Valencia filling the position for the most of last season even though he has spent the majority of his career.
United were linked with many names with Nathanial Clyne and Dani Alves been two main players linked with an Old Trafford, neither materialised with Alves signing a new deal at Barcelona and Clyne deciding on a move to Liverpool.
There were also rumours of strong interest in Everton’s Seamus Coleman, but it seems that Van Gaal has identified Darmian as his number one man.
This has thrown Rafael’s potential future at the club into serious doubt, the 24-year-old only played 11 times last season after struggling with injuries and falling out of favour.
The club is now reportedly listening to offers for the Brazilian with; Galatasaray, Napoli and Fiorentina all apparently interested in signing the full-back.
Darmian would United’s second major signing of the summer after Memphis Depay’s £25million move from PSV earlier in the summer, fans got to see Depay for the first time on Monday as he took part in the first session of pre-season training ahead of United’s pre-season tour of America.