Red Devils hope to use Bebe’s recent impressive loan spell to their advantage.
Manchester United are preparing to offer Bebe in part-exchange in a bid to sign Argentina international Nicolas Gaitan from Benfica this summer, according to The Metro.
Left-footed winger Gaitan, 26, is valued at around £16m, but the Red Devils are hoping to get a discount by sending Bebe in the other direction.
Bebe joined United from Vitoria de Guimaraes in August 2010 for a fee in the region of £7m, but he has yet to start a Premier League game for the 20-time champions.
The 23-year-old former Portugal youth international has been sent out on loan three times by United – to Besiktas, and Rio Ave and Pacos de Ferreira.
He enjoyed a decent time at Pacos de Ferreira, scoring 13 goals in 27 Primeira Liga games and helping the club narrowly avoid relegation last season.
Following his positive spell in Portugal, Bebe’s stock has spiked a little and United appear to be keen to capitalise by offloading him, with the player’s Old Trafford career seemingly over.
Gaitan has represented Argentina six times at senior international level, but he has not played for the South American nation since 2011.
He scored twice in Benfica’s run to the Europe League final last season, including the winner in a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain prior to his side’s demotion from the Champions League.
Gaitan is very fast, both with and without the ball. He is good at shooting from long range and crossing, but he is heavily reliant on his favoured left foot.
Benfica have generally used Gaitan as a traditional left winger, but he can also operate in a central attacking midfield role and on the right as an inside forward.
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