Manchester United are willing to part ways with Ander Herrera to Barcelona, should they receive Jordi Alba in a straight exchange deal.
The 27-year-old had a top season with the Red Devils last term as they celebrated an EFL Cup and Europa League double under Jose Mourinho. As a result, the Spaniard was named the club’s Player of the Season as he put in a real shift in central midfield alongside veteran Michael Carrick.
Spanish outlet Don Balon claims that the Mancunian giants could end their association with Herrera with the midfielder yet to extend his contract beyond next season. New Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde worked alongside Herrera for a single campaign(Athletic Bilbao) between 2013 and 2014 before the midfielder left for United, and the manager is now eager on a reunion at Camp Nou.
There have been talks over a four-year contract on the table for the former Basque player, but this has not diminished speculation about his future with Barcelona an admirable option for any top player in professional football. Herrera struggled to make the starting lineup on a regular basis under former boss Louis van Gaal, but the arrival of Mourinho has done wonders to his careers after he settled to a deeper holding midfield role.
Carrick has duly delivered in a similar position for the Red Devils, but Herrera appears to have made the spot his own with Mourinho looking to slowly drift the former from first-team duties. Carrick, 35, inked a one-year extension at United recently, but he may not expect as much playing time as he earned during the course of the previous campaign. Herrera bagged exactly 50 appearances for Manchester United, who will back in the Champions League next term.