The Athletic star looks set for Old Trafford.
Manchester United are closing in on their first transfer of the Louis van Gaal era as Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera completes his medical ahead of a £28.7m transfer, according to the Metro.
The Spaniard has recently reemerged on United’s radar with the club having tried to sign the 24-year-old in the summer of 2013.
A move for Herrera failed at that time, but chief executive Ed Woodward has since become more savvy in the transfer market and is keen to tie up new deals as quickly as possible.
The Red Devils desperately tried to acquire central midfielders last year in order to ease the transition of management from Sir Alex Ferguson to David Moyes.
However, bids for Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas, Sami Khedira and Herrera all failed and Woodward and Moyes were widely derided for how they had dealt with things.
The Scot has since lost his job and replacement boss van Gaal is not going to make the same mistake, handing in his wishlist to the United hierarchy despite not officially taking his post at Old Trafford until after he has guided the Netherlands national team at the ongoing 2014 World Cup.
The 13-time Premier League champions need to complete the deal before July 1, as although Herrera then enters the final year of his current contract at the San Mames Stadium, his release clause will rise from £28.7m to £33m.
The Red Devils made a similar mistake last summer after holding out for Everton’s Marouane Fellaini and having to pay over the odds for the Belgium international.
Herrera will bring attacking flair to van Gaal’s midfield, with shooting the Spaniard’s particularly strong asset, but as a box-to-box player the Bilbao ace is also useful in defence as well.
READ MORE: Manchester United transfer gossip.
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