Manchester United are reportedly on the verge of completing a blockbuster transfer, with claims suggesting an agreement has been reached to secure the signature of a £112 million-rated South American star.
According to widespread reports, the player has already arrived at Old Trafford and is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year contract, with the deal potentially being finalized today.
Speculation around United’s attacking rebuild has intensified in recent months, and fresh reports from Caught Offside indicate that the club could also be exploring a sensational swap deal involving Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola.
Such a move would mark another major statement of intent as the Red Devils look to reshape their squad following significant departures.
Last summer, Manchester United parted ways with several high-profile attackers, including Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Jadon Sancho.
In response, the club moved to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, a transfer aimed at supporting then-manager Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 system.
While Cunha brought quality and versatility, his natural tendency is to operate through central areas rather than from the left flank.
Since Amorim’s departure, United have turned to Michael Carrick, who has been appointed as head coach until the end of the current campaign. Carrick favors a 4-2-3-1 formation, a system that places heavy emphasis on natural wide players.
However, one of the key issues facing the new manager is the lack of a specialist left-winger in the current squad, a gap that the club may look to address through the transfer market.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford’s future remains a significant subplot in this developing story. The England international joined Barcelona on loan last summer and has reportedly impressed the Catalan club with his performances. As a result, Barcelona are believed to be interested in making the move permanent.
That said, securing Rashford’s signature will not be straightforward, as both Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid are also monitoring the situation closely.
PSG, in particular, are said to be willing to include Bradley Barcola as part of a player-plus-cash exchange deal in negotiations with Manchester United.
However, Rashford is reportedly keen on continuing his career at Camp Nou, meaning Luis Enrique’s side would need to work hard to convince him to move to the Parc des Princes instead.
Barcola himself remains an intriguing option for United. The 23-year-old Frenchman, who is valued at approximately £61 million by Transfermarkt, is primarily a left winger but is also capable of playing on the right.
He enjoyed an outstanding campaign last season, registering 42 goal contributions across all competitions and playing a key role in PSG’s treble-winning success.
This season, however, Barcola has struggled to consistently reproduce that level of form and has found it difficult to cement a regular starting place under Enrique. As a result, questions about his long-term future in Paris have begun to surface. Despite this dip, his talent is unquestionable.
He possesses electric pace, excellent technical ability, close control in tight spaces, and a strong creative instinct that allows him to supply chances for teammates.
Given his age and skill set, Barcola still has significant room for growth and development. Should Manchester United succeed in bringing him to Old Trafford either through a swap arrangement or a direct purchase—he could prove to be an excellent long-term addition.
Whether the club chooses to act decisively in January or wait until the summer window remains to be seen, but any move for Barcola would certainly be one of the most intriguing transfers to watch in the coming months.
