United 'In Talks' Over Costa

This from today's Times.

'Manchester United have opened talks with Grêmio about signing Douglas Costa, their highly rated Brazil Under-20 attacking midfield player, as Sir Alex Ferguson steps up his search for the new Cristiano Ronaldo.

United's principal scout in Brazil, John Calvert-Toulmin, recommended that Ferguson sign Douglas last summer, but the manager has opted to wait until now to make his move. Douglas is rumoured to have a £21 million release clause in his contract with Grêmio, which has four years left to run, but United hope to secure him for less than that. Any deal would be dependent on the player getting a work permit.

Douglas, who is left-footed and has been likened to his compatriot, Ronaldinho, the AC Milan forward, underlined his burgeoning potential this year when he helped Brazil to victory in the South American Youth Championship.

"There have been informal conversations and I believe United would match those values," Cesar Bottega, Douglas's agent, said yesterday. "At the end of the Brasileirão [the South American league championship that ends in December], Douglas will be worth at least twice that."'