Manchester United have smashed the British transfer record to sign Angel di Maria from Real Madrid.

United confirmed the signing of the Argentina winger on Tuesday after he completed a medical.

United have paid £59.7million for the former Benfica player, who has signed a five-year contract with his new club.

The fee eclipses the previous British transfer record of £50million, which Chelsea paid for Fernando Torres in 2011.

It also exceeds the £37.1million sum United paid for Juan Mata in January.

Di Maria said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester United. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain and there were a lot of clubs interested in me, but United is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for.

“Louis van Gaal is a fantastic coach with a proven track record of success and I am impressed by the vision and determination everyone has to get this club back to the top – where it belongs. I now just cannot wait to get started.”

The 26-year-old, who cost Real around £28million when they signed him from Benfica in 2010, is regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world.

His signing is a statement of intent from new manager Van Gaal too.

“Angel is a world-class midfielder but most importantly he is a team player. There is no doubting his immense natural talent,” he said.

“He is a tremendously fast and incisive left-footed player who puts fear into the most accomplished defence. His dribbling skills and his ability to take on and beat opponents are a joy to watch. He is an excellent addition to the team.”

The Argentinian won the man of the match award for his role in Real Madrid’s victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final last season.

He also made the most assists (17) in the Spanish league last season.

The £71million summer signing of James Rodriguez lessened Di Maria’s chances of first-team football at the Bernabeu, however, and Madrid decided to cash in on the player, whose value increased following a successful World Cup in Brazil, where he helped Argentina reach the final.

Paris St Germain were the early front runners for Di Maria’s signature, but they pulled out of the race to sign the midfielder after failing to agree a fee with the European champions.

It will be interesting to see how Van Gaal attempts to slot Di Maria into his starting XI.

There seems no natural place for Di Maria in the 3-4-1-2 formation Van Gaal has used since he took over at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman has a plethora of options for the number 10 role, so Di Maria could be converted into a striker, or he could be deployed deeper in midfield.

Another alternative is switching United to a 4-3-3 system with Di Maria as one of the front three, with Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie – among others – vying for the two remaining places.

United’s summer spending total now stands at over £130million following the signing of Di Maria.

Marcos Rojo (£50million), Luke Shaw (£28million) and Ander Herrera (£29million) have already joined the club, and more signings are expected before the transfer window shuts on Monday night.

Daley Blind, Arturo Vidal and Kevin Strootman are understood to be on United’s radar.

But the club have reservations over the state of Vidal’s right knee, which was operated on in May, and Roma’s Strootman is also recovering from a serious knee injury.

Blind, whom Van Gaal knows well from his time with the Dutch national side, has been told he can leave Ajax if United make an acceptable offer.

As of yet, no bid has been made for the Ajax utility man, according to his representative Rob Jansen.

Press Association Sport understands that contrary to reports, United are not interested in signing Nigel de Jong from AC Milan.

”At this moment Manchester United have not been in touch with me or Ajax about Daley and I’m not sitting here waiting for the call,” Jansen told talkSPORT.

A host of departures are also expected before the window shuts.

Up to 12 players could depart, chief among them striker Danny Welbeck.

Marouane Fellaini was expected to leave, but an ankle injury appears to have scuppered his chances of signing for Napoli.

Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa and Anderson are among a long list of names with question marks hanging over their futures.

Source Foxsports

Arsenal are waiting to discover the severity of Olivier Giroud’s foot injury but are already resigned to being without him agains Besiktas.

Giroud may be facing an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining the damage in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Everton, just seconds after heading the equaliser.

The 27-year-old Frenchman has undergone two scans and is due to see a specialist on Wednesday who will provide a time frame for his rehabilitation.

Manager Arsene Wenger refused to speculate on the extent of the damage amid reports that Giroud has broken a bone and could be out for two to three months.

“Olivier will not play against Besiktas. He will see a specialist and afterwards we will make an announcement as to how long he’ll be out,” Wenger said.

“It can be (long term), we’ll see. I don’t know (if it’s broken). It’s sad for us, but for the moment we are focused on the game.”

The loss of Giroud has robbed Arsenal of their first-choice striker as they seek to secure a 17th successive season in the group stage of the Champions League.

Wenger may now be forced into the transfer market in search of a replacement if the Gunners’ worst fears are realised and Giroud faces an extended spell on the sidelines.

When asked if his absence would impact on transfers, Wenger replied: “I don’t know. We are 24 hours from a big game and our focus is more on that than the transfer window.

“I’ve learnt one thing in our job – you say nothing categorically.”

Summer signing Alexis Sanchez could operate as the lone striker against Besiktas, although doubts have been raised over his ability to perform the role.

Sanchez was substituted at half-time at Goodison Park following an ineffective 45 minutes as the focal point of Arsenal’s attack.

Yaya Sanogo, Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell are also options, although it is Sanogo, who missed out against Everton because of a hamstring injury, who is most likely to start.

Wenger, who ruled out Podolski leaving in the transfer window, is confident he has the options to cover for Giroud’s absence in the second leg of the qualifier at the Emirates Stadium.

“Yes of course, why should I not have that confidence?” Wenger said.

“Nobody can image that when one player is missing, no matter how big the player is, the team can’t win a game any more.”

The first leg finished in a goalless draw in Istanbul and while Arsenal are heavy favourites to defeat the Turkish club, Wenger knows anything is possible.

“For us the Champions League is very important. We want to play at the top level, at international level,” Wenger said.

“It’s a very important game, more on the sporting side than the financial side.

“Nothing is unthinkable – it (not qualifying for the group stage) has happened to 99 per cent of all the big clubs in Europe.

“But we want to be in there and we think we have the potential to do it. The task is clear and we know we can do it. So let’s do it.

“Experience plays a big part. We have big experience of playing in the Champions League and in highly pressurised games. We can use that.

“But what’s more important is putting in a good, strong performance.

“I’m confident this group is mentally prepared and ready for the fight.”

Source: Foxsports

Lukas Podolski’s agent has brushed aside reports that Juventus and Napoli have made an offer to sign the Arsenal forward.

The Germany international has been linked with a move to Serie A this summer.

Podolski did not feature in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Everton on Saturday, increasing speculation around the 29-year-old’s possible departure from north London.

“I read in the newspapers that Juventus and Napoli were interested in Lukas,” Podolski’s agent Ali Pektas told tuttomercatoweb.it.

“But there has been no approach from either of those clubs.

“I don’t know if he will go to Italy in this transfer window. I can’t say anything for sure.

“The only certainty is that Lukas has a contract with Arsenal.”

Podolski,. who is also a target of Turkish side Galatasaray, joined Arsenal from Cologne in the summer of 2012 and has two years left on his contract.

According to Foxsports