Fred will go to Manchester City or United - Shakhtar CEO
Brazil midfielder Fred will join either Manchester City or Manchester United in July, believes Shakhtar Donetsk's chief executive.
Rivals Manchester City and Manchester United will do battle for Brazil international Fred come the end of the season, according to Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin.
The 25-year-old midfielder has impressed in the Champions League this season, scoring Shakhtar's winner in their last-16 first leg against Roma and reportedly drawing the attention of both Manchester clubs.
And Palkan expects that Fred is destined for one of the two Premier League giants when the transfer window opens again later this year, with a €60million fee mooted.
"Fred will leave in July," he said, as reported by Sporx. "If he does not go to Manchester City, he will go to Manchester United.
"Fred is ready to play in the strongest league [in Europe]. He is not only a very good player but also a very good professional. I would like him to have one more year in our team, but he is ready for a stronger league."
The moment Fred beat international team-mate Alisson Becker February 21, 2018
Former Internacional man Fred faced City in the Champions League group stages this season, playing the full 90 minutes in both a home win and an away defeat.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
He made his international debut in 2014 and has been included in Tite's latest Brazil squad for friendlies against Russia and Germany, with the World Cup just three months away.
‘Managing Leeds? It was an option that appeared, but it wasn’t the right timing. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to leave the club I was at mid-season’: Premier League boss admits to turning down opportunity to replace Jesse Marsch in 2023
‘Ruben Amorim could have waited for Real Madrid and had a better chance to be successful – to have joined Manchester United, he must be convinced in his own ability’ Former Old Trafford coach’s verdict on new boss