Ander Herrera pays his release clause at last, say AS

Manchester United have representatives at the Spanish league headquarters to finalise a deal for Ander Herrera, according to AS.

The three representatives will pay the money to activate Herrera's release clause. Some sources had reported that United had already activated the clause, but so far nothing has materialised from Old Trafford as the deadline looms. The paper reports that Herrera has deposited the money and that should leave only a medical to allow the deal to go ahead.

Things have been left very late, and there could still be complications if the report is erroneous, but hopefully the sources are in alignment now and we should see this one through.

With a deal for Marouane Fellaini in doubt, it's vital that we wrap up at least one midfield signing. It looks like the end of the window could be a late one for United, as we enter... ah, if only there were some crude phrase for such a situation. I'm sure our former manager might have provided one.