Angel di Maria... on his way to Manchester United.

Manchester United are looking to have the British record signing of Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria wrapped up by this evening, reports in the UK said yesterday.

United have made no official comment on the matter, but it is understood a fee has been agreed between the Red Devils and Real that will eclipse the British record £50 million Chelsea paid to Liverpool for Fernando Torres in 2011, with reports putting the figure to at least £60 million.

It is also understood Di Maria – who bid farewell to his Real team-mates on Sunday – was flying to Manchester yesterday ahead of a medical.

And the expectation is that the deal will be complete within around 24 hours, although not in time for the Argentina international to be involved in United’s League Cup tie at MK Dons tonight.

The 26-year-old would be set for a debut in Saturday’s Premier League match at Burnley.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal would neither confirm nor deny anything with regard to the Di Maria situation after his side’s 1-1 league draw at Sunderland on Sunday.

Van Gaal said: “I cannot say anything about transfers, you have to understand that. When a transfer has been finished, then we can say something. But now you have to wait and see.’’

He added with a smile: “It is not only Di Maria – maybe Vidal or Messi... we are a big club.”

The Sunderland game was United’s second this season and once again, as in the 2-1 home defeat to Swansea the previous weekend, they put in an unconvincing display.

Taking a solitary point from six available has hardly made for the spectacular start to the Premier League campaign United fans might have hoped for after Van Gaal’s arrival over the summer.

But striker Robin van Persie insists there is confidence in the camp that things will come good.

Van Persie said: “We’ve played two games and only picked up one point, we would have loved to have got six points but it didn’t happen, so we have to bounce back.

“I think that everyone has faith and everyone believes in the staff and players.

“We have great players, and it’s just a matter of time before the points will start coming in.”

Van Persie was making his return to action at the Stadium of Light after an extended break following the World Cup, where he was part of Van Gaal’s Holland side that came third in the tournament.