star having decided he wants to join Louis van Gaal's side, Goal understands.
The 26-year-old has emerged as the club's top transfer target and United are ready to pay in excess
of £45 million to get their man.
Goal revealed back in July that an agreement between the Premier League club and Real Madrid was close and now Di Maria's desire to link up with Van Gaal should push the deal over the line.
The former Benfica star's Madrid career is all but over, with boss Carlo Ancelotti revealing on Thursday that Di Maria had asked to leave the club having rejected a new deal to prolong his stay at the
Bernabeu .
The summer arrivals of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos have nudged Di Maria down the Los Blancos pecking order, with the Argentine being left of the squad for the Supercopa de Espana defeat to Atletico Madrid on Friday.
Paris Saint-Germain have long been linked with a summer move for Di Maria, although they pulled out of the race to sign the winger at the beginning of August, leaving the path clear for United .
Goal understands that United are still to agree a fee with Madrid although with Di Maria now set on a
move to Old Trafford, Van Gaal's side hold the aces in negotiations with the Liga giants.
United kicked off their Premier League campaign in disastrous fashion with a 2-1 home defeat to
Swansea City on the opening weekend of the season.
Argentina international defender Marcos Rojo has since arrived in a £16 million deal, with Nani heading
to Sporting Lisbon on loan as part of the deal, as Van Gaal looks to improve his squad prior to the summer window closing.
But it is the signing of Di Maria, a player of the quality that Van Gaal openly admitted his side are missing, that would make the biggest statement as the Dutch
coach looks to get United back on track in the hunt for the top-four and potentially a Premier League title push.
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