The agent of Manchester United target Roberto Firmino has confirmed the Hoffenheim forward will be playing in the Premier League next season, according to German newspaper Bild.
Firmino, currently representing Brazil at the Copa America in Chile, has emerged as a surprise target for United boss Louis van Gaal this summer, and reports last week suggested the two clubs had reached an agreement over a £13.1 million fee.
The 23-year-old is expected to tie up the formalities of the transfer by agreeing personal terms and undergoing a medical while he remains in South America, but United will have to wait patiently until he returns from international duty before finalising the move.
And his agent, Roger Wittmann, has confirmed the deal that will take Firmino to England will be completed on his return – although he stopped short of revealing his client’s exact destination with United rumoured to be the front runners for his signature.
“All I can say is that he’s moving to England,” Wittmann told Bild.
Firmino, who scored seven goals in the Bundesliga last season, is valued between £18m and £21m by Hoffenheim and his proposed switch to Old Trafford is expected to be a club record fee for the German club – eclipsing £14.5m fee from the sale of Carlos Eduardo to Rubin Kazan in 2010.