Transfer Rumour: Gaitan to United almost done

Ah, the silly season is truly upon us. A Portuguese newspaper has said Manchester United are on the verge of signing Nico Gaitan from Benfica. That's funny, because the Portuguese press have said Manchester United have agreed a deal for Gaitan countless times since 2012
- he's surely got to be their player already? It's not only the Portuguese media who have ran such reports, in April 2012 The Telegraph did so and they said Fabio da Silva and Federico Macheda would be moving to Benfica as part of the deal. British tabloids have done so repeatedly,

Yet somehow Gaitan is still at Benfica. He's been linked with many other clubs too and that he hasn't moved has unfairly cast doubts on his talent. Gaitan has seen many players leave Benfica who haven't performed anywhere near as well as he has, and it appears his representation hasn't pushed enough for a transfer. Gaitan is represented by the same agent as Jackson Martinez, frequently in the same transfer limbo boat.

It's no coincidence that when Benfica's president travelled to England last week with the intention of completing a sale of Gaitan, he didn't take Gaitan's agent but rather took Jorge Mendes along instead. He clearly wants something to happen this time.

Portuguese newspaper A Bola splash Gaitan across their front cover today and say he's set to move to Manchester United, with the transfer 80% to 90% done, they things would be concluded and a transfer announced after the Portuguese League Cup final, which is on Friday. 

But is it different this time? Yes, it most certainly is, mainly because Mendes is involved, but that doesn't mean Gaitan will certainly sign for Manchester United - it just makes a transfer more likely.