Transfer News: Manchester United to Outbid Barcelona for Juan Cuadrado

The chase for the services of Juan Cuadrado continues in the 2014 transfer season with three teams reportedly still in the running for the Colombian winger. Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are all intrigued by Cuadrado, who had a very good performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Initial reports state that Cuadrado preferred a move to the La Liga club since his teammate James Rodriguez plays for Real Madrid.

"I hope that the deal goes through, he is a great friend of mine,” Rodriguez said via Radio Caracol last Friday. "If he were to arrive, it would open the door to other Colombians, because we would have many playing at great clubs."

Cuadrado and Rodriguez helped the Colombian soccer national team to a quarterfinals finish in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. It was the best performance by their country in their history of the World Cup.

However, follow-up reports have now stated that Barcelona couldn’t meet the demands of Cuadrado.

This was the opening Manchester United needed as the Red Devils have now thrown a €39 million offer for the Colombian star. No less than new manager Louis Van Gaal has made the orders in aggressively chasing a winger who is expected to adjust well to Van Gaal’s 3-5-2 formation.

“We have had no official bids for Cuadrado. However it would be very difficult to refuse an offer of €50M. We hope he will stay with us but I must say how things are,” Daniele Prade of Fiorentina said via express.co.uk.

Cuadrado’s past stints include appearances for Independiente Medellin (2008-2009); Udinese (2009-2012) and Lecce (2011-2012). He was with the Fiorentina club since 2012.