Manchester United are ready to fight it out with Barcelona for the signature of Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado, according to fresh reports in the Spanish press.
Mundo Deportivo claims Barca head coach Luis Enrique has made the Colombia international his top summer transfer target but is fully aware that the Red Devils are now also on the radar.
New boss Louis van Gaal is looking to reshape his squad ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, having been left unimpressed by some of his players during the pre-season tour of the USA.
He is said to have been impressed by Cuadrado’s performances in the World Cup – a competition in which van Gaal led the Netherlands to a third-place finish.
The 62-year-old is prepared to freshen up his options in the wide positions, with doubts surrounding the Old Trafford futures of Nani, Ashley Young and Wilfried Zaha.
Fiorentina will hold out for somewhere in the region of £33million after increasing his asking price in the light of his impressive performances in Brazil.
Juventus were also considered strong candidates to buy Cuadrado, but the shock departure of head coach Antonio Conte is thought to have caused them to slip down the pecking order.
Cuadrado scored 13 goals in 38 appearances for his club last term while also receiving 12 yellow cards and one red.