United confident of signing Nemanja Matic

Manchester United are confident of closing a deal for Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic after failing in their efforts to take Eric Dier from Tottenham Hotspur.

José Mourinho, the United manager, identified Dier as his No1 defensive midfield target at the start of the close-season and he has seen three bids for him turned down by Tottenham.

The third bid was understood to be close to £40m.

Mourinho has signed the centre-half, Victor Lindelöf, and the striker, Romelu Lukaku, but obsessed by adding a defensive midfielder and he is now convinced that he will get Matic.

United have had a £35m bid for him rejected but Matic wants to go to Old Trafford and the Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, is willing to grant him his wish as a goodwill gesture in view of the player’s service to the club.

Abramovich, though, will make United pay – with a fee of £50m having been mooted.

Chelsea would be prepared to sell for less to a foreign club, with Juventus among the interested parties, but they continue to smart over how United hijacked their move for Lukaku.

UCJ, UNILORIN.