Manchester United Close To Another Free Transfer, Have Spoken To Player's Representatives Already

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on a deal for free agent goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.

The 27-year-old left Lazio at the end of last season and has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs, including Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Chelsea.

Fulham enquired earlier in the window but have instead followed up a move for Arsenal man Bernd Leno.

TalkSPORT's Geoff Peters has claimed United are favourites for Strakosha after speaking with his representatives recently.

United allowed Dean Henderson to join Forest on a season-long loan and are in need of a backup to first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea.

Strakosha made 23 appearances in Serie A last season and helped Lazio to a fifth place finish.

The Albania international did not make his first league start until December, however, and was mainly used in the Europa League with Pepe Reina the preferred pick for manager Maurizio Sarri.

United announced the signing of Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord last week to kickstart the Erik ten Hag era.

Malacia is expected to challenge starting left-back Luke Shaw after putting pen to paper on a long-term contract.

Christian Eriksen has verbally agreed to join the Red Devils on a three-year deal after returning to English football with Brentford in January.

Discussions continue with Barcelona over a deal for Frenkie de Jong and he is said to be a priority target.

Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez is on ten Hag's wishlist too and he hopes to replenish the United squad.

The 52-year-old has been hard at work on the training ground in the last two weeks, drilling his demands into his players.

Before jetting off to Thailand for pre-season, ten Hag spoke to United's official website about his preparations.

"We want to play a proactive style of football - on the ball and off the ball,' ten Hag admitted.

"That is, trying to do that has to be our intentions and it's now, firstly, the coaches bring it over to the team that we are, in every situation, proactive. We are brave and willing to have the ball, to give each other options. But also off the ball, to get the pressing style is what we're working for together.

"That is my job, to construct a team and to improve the team. You can do it in different ways or in more ways but, to start, it is out of a philosophy.

"And then you build it and go into the individuals, and you give them the rules and principles. 

"But, also in the positions of individuals, you give them coaching advice, and, in the end, it's about team results and better team performances so you give them advice to perform into the team."