Portuguese sports daily O Jogo has claimed that Al Ahli have made a €35m (Dh142m) bid for Benfica’s Argentina midfielder Nicolas Gaitan.

The long rumoured Manchester United target has reportedly been offered a staggering €3.5m (Dh14.2m) per-year deal by the Dubai club.

However, O Jogo goes on to state that Gaitan is initially uninterested in a move to the Arabian Gulf League, deeming such a transfer a significant step down in his career.

According to the paper, Ahli officials are unperturbed and are currently in Lisbon in an attempt to finalise an agreement between both clubs and the player.

If the deal were to be agreed it would be the AGL side’s second raid on Benfica this summer after they added striker Rodrigo Lima to their ranks.

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The news comes a day after boss Cosmin Olaroiu stated that Ahli’s fourth spot for a foreign player was still up for grabs and he hinted at one final foray into the transfer market.

Gaitan, 27, has been capped nine times by his country and been a permanent member of the Benfica setup since moving from Boca Juniors five years ago.

While it seems unlikely that Ahli would be able to complete the transfer of Gaitan, if it were to happen it would be by far the most expensive and eye-catching deal in UAE football history.