Manchester United transfer news: Blaise Matuidi 'allowed time off' France duty at Euro 2016 for Old Trafford talks

The 29-year-old has helped the Parisian giants lift four consecutive Ligue 1 titles since 2012

Samuel Stevens
Tuesday 05 July 2016 07:55 BST
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Blaise Matuidi, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, has reportedly been allowed to temporarily leave duty with France at Euro 2016 for talks with Manchester United.

The 29-year-old has helped the Parisian giants lift four consecutive Ligue 1 titles since 2012, scoring 19 goals in 165 appearances, attracting interest from across the continent.

United manager Jose Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to acquire a raft of new midfield talent this summer, leading ambitious pursuits of both Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juventus star Paul Pogba.

Summer 2016 Transfer Window - Done deals and rumours

But, according to the French wing of Goal, Les Blues manager Didier Deschamps has afforded Matuidi with a short window to undergo negotiations with the 20-time champions of England before their semi-final against Germany on Thursday.

New Paris head coach Unai Emery has swiftly completed the signings of Hatem Ben Arfa from Nice and Grzegorz Krychowiak from Sevilla, both midfielders, meaning Matuidi could find himself considerably lower down the pecking order.

Mourinho has already completed the signings of defender Eric Bailly and Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer as he continues his redesign of the squad he inherited from Louis van Gaal.

Juan Mata, meanwhile, has been linked with a transfer to Everton as Ronald Koeman flexes the financial muscle handed to him by new owner Farhad Moshiri.

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