Javier Pastore Transfer News

Javier Pastore is close to agreeing a move to Manchester United. That is what the world of football transfer rumours tells us, as Sir Alex Ferguson, apparently a known admirer of the Argentinian 21 year-old sees the attacking midfielder as the perfect replacement for Paul Scholes.

Here is what has been said:

• Pastore's current side Palermo are said to be sticking to an asking price of 40 million euros which is £34.4 million.
• That means Sir Alex Ferguson would be willing to break the clubs transfer record set by the signing of Dimitar Berbatov for just over £30 million.
• The controversial and very much disliked Manchester United owners have promised Ferguson substantial transfer funds to compete for the best players in the summer - including Pastore.
• The promise of increased funds comes from the Wayne Rooney transfer saga, when the England striker questioned United's ambition. The injection of funds is apparently a show of ambition to persuade United's top players to stay.
• United will look to sell some of their current players to help in the funding of Pastore. Players such as Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen, Johnny Evans, Bebe, Gabriel Obertan and Darron Gibson are all said to have an uncertain future at United.
• The player’s agent Marcelo Simonen is supposedly almost finalizing a deal with the head chiefs of ‘The Red Devils’.
• A number of top clubs have already been linked with Pastore, including Real Madrid and Barcelona. Manchester City have also expressed an interest.
• Barcelona travelled to Italy to discuss a verbal agreement with Palermo to unite Pastore with fellow countryman Lionel Messi. No agreement was reached which left United open to discussion.

Pastore joined Palermo in 2009 and his performances were rewarded with a place in the Argentina squad in the 2010 World Cup. He was also awarded with the 2010 Serie A Young Player of the Year - the first Argentinian ever to win it and an honour previously won by another United target, Marek Hamsik, as well as Alexandre Pato of AC Milan.

All of these rumours are somewhat destroyed by what the player said little over a month ago:

"It's not yet time to talk about my transfer. We will see later. Now I'm happy to stay in Palermo," the 21-year-old told Corriere dello Sport.

"This is the ideal place to complete my growth. One day I'll be ready for the biggest clubs, but now I'm happy where I am.

"I have a contract with Palermo until 2015. If an important offer does arrive and president (Maurizio) Zamparini decides to talk about it with me, the situation could change, but now I think I still have a few years in Palermo.

"When I leave, I will go to a team where I can play. Going now to Barcelona or Real Madrid would mean to stay on the bench if not in the stands.

"I can do a transfer like that when I'm 28, when I'll be ready."

Below you can watch videos of the player and what has so many clubs interested.