Juan Cuadrado: Manchester United lead Barcelona in race for Colombian winger

United hopeful of pipping Barcelona to the signing of the Colombia star

Colombia's Juan Guillermo Cuadrado celebrates his team's second goal against Uruguay (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United are set to offer a major-money deal to Juan Cuadrado in a bid to beat Barcelona to the winger's services.

The Fiorentina star has long been a summer target of Louis van Gaal's as the Dutchman looks for defensively-adept wingers to play on the right of his new 3-4-1-2 system.

Barcelona are understood to retain a significant interest in Cuadrado, who impressed as Colombia reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Brazil, notching four assists and a goal.

However, the Catalans will have to match the £29 million deal that Fiorentina have negotiated with United executives. The Florentine club had originally stuck a £40 million price tag on Cuadrado but have budged significantly from that figure in recent weeks.

The proposed deal with United would see Cuadrado's initial value rise in connection with appearances and performance.

"I don’t know yet what will happen," said Cuadrado back in early July. "At this moment I haven’t received any concrete offers from any club."

Last week, Fiorentina sporting director told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, "We'll see the best situation, if there was an offer of €50 million he would be hard to give up, but at the moment there has been no official request. Cuadrado is a sensitive boy, we'll talk with him."