Angel Di Maria could cost United £72m but should be unveiled by Tuesday night... and did Louis van Gaal drop Arturo Vidal hint?

Spanish reports say Manchester United will eventually pay Real Madrid £72m

Manchester United will try and push through a £50m deal for Real Madrid's Angel Di Maria (Getty Images)

Angel Di Maria should be a Manchester United player by Tuesday evening, according to reports.

The Argentine winger is expected to seal a big-money move from Real Madrid and will sign a five-year deal with a salary worth £180,000-a-week.

The 26-year-old has already said his goodbyes to players and staff in Spain, Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed. According to the Press Association, Di Maria will be officially announced by Tuesday evening at the latest.

However, Di Maria was supposed to have been on a plane to the North West by now to complete his medical but his location is currently unknown - he has not been spotted at any airports in Madrid though he may arrive tonight.

United are said to be keen to push through a deal so he can be registered in time to play at Burnley on Saturday, though he will not be ready for the Capital One Cup game against MK Dons; Di Maria is likely to wear the famous No 7 shirt.

Eyebrows have been raised at the expected fee for Di Maria, with United believed to be paying £63.9m for his services. The latest reports in Spain now state that the fee is over £70m, with Spanish newspaper Marca claiming he will cost United £72m if he meets various criteria.

Louis van Gaal may have inadvertently dropped a hint that his summer spending is not yet finished even with Di Maria on the way. The Argentine's arrival will take United's spending in 2014 past the £170m; but several reports claim they are not finished there.

Did Louis van Gaal drop a hint about Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal? (GETTY IMAGES)

Speaking after the 1-1 draw at Sunderland, Van Gaal said: “When a transfer has been finished then we can say something. But now you have to wait and see. When the moment is there Manchester United shall announce it.

“It is not only Di Maria, maybe Vidal or Messi! We are a big club. The club always has to announce, and when we think it is the right time we will come to you and say, ‘OK, we have bought this player or that player’. At this time we can’t say anything but I like Di Maria.”

Of course a deal for Lionel Messi will not happen but the fact he mentioned Arturo Vidal - a player Manchester United have been linked with throughout the summer - could be telling.

The rumour mill has spun into action, with pundits and commentators wondering why the Dutch coach named the Juventus midfielder rather than more obvious choices such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar or Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Daily Telegraph also state that Van Gaal will go for two of the stalwarts from his Netherlands World Cup squad, Nigel de Jong and Daley Blind.

Nigel de Jong is also being linked with a move to Old Trafford

Former Manchester City enforcer De Jong, 29, could be available for as little as £8m as AC Milan continue their rebuild, while Blind is trying to force his way out of Dutch champions Ajax and is another who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford all summer. De Jong appears to be the type of player United's midfield is lacking while Blind is an extremely capable utility player.

With Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and Anderson all still linked with exits, it is set to be a busy final week of the transfer window at Old Trafford.