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Manchester United close to securing a deal for Victor Valdes
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Manchester United Football Club is closing in on the
signing of free agent Victor Valdes. The former Barcelona goalkeeper has been
training with United since October and PA Sport understands he has accepted the
offer of an 18-month contract with the Red Devils.
Manager Louis van Gaal is a big fan of Valdes - he
gave the Spaniard his Barcelona debut in 2002 - and he hopes the 32-year-old
will provide strong competition for first choice David de Gea.
Valdes was an ever-present during his 12-year spell at
Barca, but he will have to fight hard to dislodge De Gea, who has enjoyed a
superb season at Old Trafford.
De Gea has 18 months left to run on his deal, but the
club are confident he will sign a new contract despite interest from Real
Madrid.
Valdes' arrival, which could be formally announced on
Thursday, may lead to the exit of Anders Lindegaard, who has not played a game
for United since Van Gaal took over.
Valdes would be Van Gaal's seventh signing for United.
The most-high profile of the sextet he signed last
summer - Radamel Falcao - says he now feels settled following a mixed start to
life at Old Trafford.
Falcao's arrival was greeted with great fanfare on
deadline day, but he has only scored three goals for the club.
After starting United's last five games, the
28-year-old is beginning to feel more at home at the club.
"I'm good," the striker told www.manutd.com
"My family are comfortable. We're enjoying life
in Manchester and here at the club. The people have been great with me, with my
family. We're happy and very grateful."
Despite spending over £150million last summer, it is
one of the club's longest-serving players that has caught the eye of record
signing Angel di Maria.
"Wayne Rooney is an impressive player," the
United midfielder told Radio America. "He plays 90 minutes in every game. He is always
committed, giving everything in every match. He has this quality, mentality and this hunger
to play every game that is incomparable."
Rooney's form has been key to the unbeaten 10-match
run which has propelled United up to third in the Barclays Premier League
table.
Such a streak seemed unlikely at the start of the
season when Van Gaal struggled to get the best out of his stellar squad. In an interview with MUTV, Van Gaal admitted he felt
he had let the club's supporters down at the start of the campaign. "After 11 matches we had 13 points and when I
walked into the stadium, I thought the fans shall not be pleased, but they rose
up clapping their hands," the Dutchman said. "And that was despite the few points we had so I
felt myself not so happy because I was responsible and guilty for the
results."
Van Gaal received a boost on Wednesday after it
emerged Rafael will return to training this week despite fracturing his
cheekbone against Yeovil in the FA Cup.
"Operation was perfect back training normal with
mask on Friday very happy," the right-back wrote on Instagram.
It remains to be seen whether Rafael will be risked
for United's game against Southampton on Sunday.
Ashley
Young is out for several weeks because of a hamstring injury, while Luke Shaw
(ankle) and Antonio Valencia (groin) are doubts for the game at Old Trafford.
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