MANCHESTER/PARIS: Argentina winger Angel Di Maria is poised to complete his long-awaited transfer to Paris Saint-Germain for £44.3m.

Talks took place between Di Maria and the French champions in Doha on Sunday as the 27-year-old approached the end of his disappointing year at Old Trafford.

United signed Di Maria from Real Madrid for £59.7 m last year but, after an encouraging start, his form faded and he started only one of the final 10 games of last term.

The winger, who won the Champions League and the Primera Division title during his time in the Spanish capital, was also unsettled after an attempted burglary on his Cheshire home in February. The player and his family then moved to a city-centre apartment in Manchester.

His likely exit was signalled when United manager Louis Van Gaal said he did not know of Di Maria’s whereabouts after he failed to join the squad on their pre-season tour of the United States.

PSG coach and former United defender Laurent Blanc said: “Manchester United and PSG are two big clubs and negotiations can be difficult but we are close to the end.”

United could step up their pursuit of Barcelona winger Pedro as replacement for Di Maria.

Di Maria’s exit from Madrid was controversial because his final game for Real was a key role in helping them secure La Decima against Atletico de Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final in Lisbon.

The Argentinian, an Olympic chamion in 2008, provided more assists than anyone in Europe’s major leagues in his final season in Madrid. Remarkably, only Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla managed more than his tally of 10 in the Premier League last season.

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