Cape Town – Manchester United look set to make their first signing of the transfer window as they are believed to be in advanced talks to sign Brazilian midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Sky Sports report that the English Premiership side want to sign the 25-year-old before the World Cup which begins June 14.

Jose Mourinho is keen to reinforce his midfield options and is looking at different options to replace the recently-retired Michael Carrick. United could make as many as two midfield additions with Marouane Fellaini also rumoured to depart Old Trafford.

United have been linked to a host of midfielders with Napoli's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic another name linked with a move to Manchester.

Meanwhile United legend Paul Scholes believes the club should allow star midfielder Paul Pogba to leave if he is unhappy.

Jose Mourinho's charges brought academy graduate Pogba back to United for a club record transfer fee of £89million in 2016, but he has not quite managed to live up to the hype.

The Frenchman has received regular criticism throughout his first two seasons back at the club due to the fact that he hasn't been able to reproduce the form he showed at Juventus, and he now appears to be considering his options.

"Once the season is over and players meet up with their international teams there are always some comments made," Scholes told talkSPORT.

"But look, if players arent happy, let them go. Thats always the way I feel about it.