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Fabio Coentrao to make Paris Saint-Germain loan switch despite Man Utd interest
MANCHESTER UNITED have missed out on signing another Real Madrid defender, according to reports.
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Bosses at Old Trafford were expected to make a bid for Bernabeu full-back Fabio Coentrao in an effort to bolster Louis van Gaal's back line.
But reports from France claim the Portugal international is set for a surprise loan move to Paris Saint-Germain instead.
Coentrao, 27, has fallen out with staff at Real and is seeking to leave the club before deadline day, claim Le Parisien.
But he will not be heading to United, despite the club's reported late pursuit of the ace.
Instead, PSG have agreed a year-long loan for the player, having failed to land Monaco full-back Layvin Kaurzawa.
The Ligue 1 champions are seeking a replacement full-back for Lucas Digne, who is set to quit the club this summer, with Liverpool and Roma interested.
It was thought Paris would use their financial strength to make the Coentrao move permanent but have instead gone for the loan option.
Fabio Coentrao looks set to join PSG before deadline day
As for United, chief executive Ed Woodward has already lost out on bids to sign Real centre-half pairing Sergio Ramos and Pepe.
Ramos, 29, penned a new five-year contract at the Bernabeu this month after a deal to join United collapsed over transfer fee disagreements.
And Portugal international Pepe was considered another option for Van Gaal before his one-year contract extension was confirmed last week.
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