Manchester United are close to securing a 29.3 million pounds deal to sign Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan at the end of the season.

According to the Telegraph, the Portuguese club has struck an informal agreement with United over the sale of the Argentina international.

Gaitan, who can play as an attacking midfielder or left-sided forward, impressed against Manchester United during Benfica's Champions League group stage encounters with Sir Alex Ferguson's team earlier this season.

His arrival at Old Trafford next summer would help fill the void left by Paul Scholes' retirement last May.