Manchester United will be able to sign Faouzi Ghoulam from Napoli once Alejandro Grimaldo transfer is complete
Serie A club's likely move for £27m Benfica ace means Ghoulam will no longer be needed at Stadio San Paolo
MANCHESTER UNITED have been boosted in their pursuit of £54million Napoli left-back Faouzi Ghoulam, according to reports.
The Serie A club are close to agreeing a £27m fee for Benfica defender Alejandro Grimaldo.
And once the transfer is completed in the summer, Tuttosport claims Ghoulam, 26, will be allowed to leave Naples.
The Algeria full-back has been tracked by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola since he impressed at the Etihad in the Champions League in October.
But rivals United are said to be a more likely destination.
Ghoulam signed a new five-year contract at the Stadio San Paolo just last month.
So Napoli will be able to demand the entire £54m release clause in the player's contract.
Converted full-back Ashley Young has been Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho's main left-back this season.
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Luke Shaw, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian can also play in the position.
Mourinho insists he needs more than the £300m United have allowed him in the transfer market because City "buy full-backs for the price of strikers".
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Etihad chief Pep Guardiola splurged £121m on Ben Mendy, Kyle Walker and Danilo in the summer.
Mourinho said: "One thing is a big club and another thing is a big football team. They are two different things.
"We are in the second year of trying to rebuild a football team you know is not one of the best teams in the world.
"Manchester City buy the full-backs for the price of the strikers, so when you speak about big football clubs, you are speaking about the history of the club."
Shaw, 22, was expected to be United's No1 left-back following his £27m transfer in 2014.
But he been in and out of the squad under Mourinho and his future appears to be in doubt.
United legend Paul Scholes said: "You have to be able to take a bit of stick from the manager.
"You’re at this big club for a reason – you’re a very good player and mentally you should be prepared for whatever’s coming your way."