Manchester United have agreed a deal in principle to sign Alex Telles for a fee believed to be £15.4million, with the Porto left-back flying to Manchester on Sunday night ahead of a medical with the club on Monday.
United felt their chances of agreeing a deal for the 27-year-old were fading after they had a £15.4million offer rejected by the Portuguese champions, who were holding out for £22.5million.
One source close to the deal described negotiations as “dead”, and United expected they would have to wait until January to hold talks with the player about a free transfer, with his present contract ending next summer.
However, negotiations began again on Sunday morning, with Porto changing their minds on United’s most recent bid – convinced that no subsequent offer was likely from Old Trafford given the transfer window closes for Premier League clubs at 11pm on Monday.
Telles was due to fly to Sao Paulo on Sunday ahead of Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru when news of the deal came through, and will now board a private jet from Porto Airport to Manchester.
Once his medical is completed on Monday, Telles will then fly to join the Brazil national team.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to bring in a new left-back before the deadline to add competition for Luke Shaw – who has struggled with injuries since arriving at Old Trafford in 2014 – and Brandon Williams, who only broke into the first team last season.
