Manchester United are close to completing the signing of Barcelona forward Pedro Rodriguez but he is likely to miss out their opening Barclay Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on August 8.
According to reports in Spanish media, the Catalan gains have agreed to sell the Spain international to the Red Devils but will only let him allow move to Old Trafford after their UEFA Super Cup game against Sevilla on 11 August in Tbilisi, for which the fitness of frontline strikers Lionel Messi and Neymar is a concern for them.
Pedro just signed a new four-year deal with Barcelona last month but has made up his mind to leave Camp Nou after seven years to pursue more first-team football following a frustrating 2014-15 La Liga season, wherein he played for full 90 minutes in just eight games.
The two clubs are yet in negotiations over the transfer fee for the Spaniard but Barcelona are said to be holding out for £22million. United had lodged an intimal offer of £17.7 million for him earlier this month.
United boss Louis van Gaal is desperate to strengthen his strike-force ahead of the new season and sees the Spaniard as an ideal replacement for Angle di Maria, who is on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain after spending just one season at Old Trafford following his British record £59.7m arrival from Real Madrid.
Pedro remained a regular member of Catalans’ starting line-up in the first half of last season but slipped down the pecking order following Luis Suárez’s arrival and struggled to get more regular football after the turn of year.
He finished the season having scored 11 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions.
