Manchester United have agreed a fee in principle with Juventus for midfielder Adrien Rabiot of £15million rising to £20m but have to negotiate personal terms with the player's agent - his mother.
Sources say Rabiot's mother, Veronique, is the "only stumbling block" as United have to agree satisfactory personal terms.
The Manchester Evening News understands there was an acceptance at United late last week they had to pursue alternative midfielders to Frenkie de Jong, despite agreeing an €85million fee with Barcelona last month.
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United have not ended pursuit of De Jong but club sources said fall-back targets were being kept "warm" as a deal for De Jong is in the balance.
Rabiot, 27, has entered the last year of his contract at Juventus and the club reinforced their midfield over the last year with the additions of Manuel Locatelli, Denis Zakaria and Paul Pogba.
Rabiot started 28 times for Juventus last season and lined up in six of their eight Champions League matches but only joined the club after Massimiliano Allegri resigned as coach in 2019. Allegri rejoined Juve last year.
The possibility of joining a Premier League club has always appealed to Rabiot and United have tracked him since Louis van Gaal was manager.
Rabiot's mother and agent, Veronique, encouraged United to bid for her son in the 2014 summer transfer window after a move to Roma collapsed.
United monitored Rabiot in 2019 but their failure to qualify for the Champions League made any possible move prohibitive and he joined Juventus on a free from PSG.
Veronique Rabiot has gained a reputation as something of a battle-axe in France, having once confronted Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc in a car park.
Once it became apparent Rabiot had decided to leave PSG, the club's chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi was relieved the club would not have to deal with his mother again.
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