Manchester United are in advanced talks with Shakhtar Donetsk for Fred and a deal is close, according to Sky sources.
It is understood the Premier League side want to sign the 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder before the World Cup, which begins on June 14.
Fred – who has seven caps for Brazil – has been named in their squad for the tournament in Russia.
Manchester City were accepted to be excited about marking Fred in January as a long haul swap for Fernandinho, yet it currently shows up their greatest adversaries will beat them to his mark.
Gilberto Silva – the previous Arsenal midfielder – fills in as Fred’s guide and he revealed to The Debate in March that the Shakhtar man needed to move to the Premier League.
Fred joined the Ukrainian side in 2013 from Internacional in his local Brazil.