According to reports from the Daily Star, Chelsea are set to beat Liverpool for the signing of Barcelona right back Dani Alves in the coming summer. The Brazilian will be out of contract in the coming year and has been long linked with a move to the Premier League. It is also reported that Liverpool and Manchester United, both are chasing his signature but the Blues seem to be in pole position to sign the Brazilian. However the METRO claims that the player would prefer a move to Mnachester City. Such a move doesn’t seem in sync as City have just signed Bacary Sagna while Pablo Zabaleta is one of the best right backs in the League.
Alves prefers a move to the Etihad as he knows the club’s former Barcelona directors Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano. United are also ready to pounce on the player as manager Louis Van Gaal has made it his top priority of signing a right-back as Rafael has failed to convince as a a long-term future at Old Trafford. Alves would also fit in Van Gaal’s prefered 4-3-3 or the 3-5-2 system. Though Barcelona haven’t ruled out of a one year contract extension to stop the player to leave on a free, Alves’ advisors are checking out English options already.
United are also eyeing to sign Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado should they fail to sign Alves. The Colombian was one of the stars of the World Cup and was heavily linked with the Red Devils throughout the summer. He has grown frustrated at Fiorentina and the right wing back is already looking out for greener pastures. Cuadrado however wont come on the cheap and would cost United a significant amount in the coming transfer window.