Man United chief executive Ed Woodward jets to Barcelona to finalise a £22million deal for Pedro

Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward has flown to Barcelona to try finalise a £22million deal for Spain star Pedro.

Woodward travelled to Barca ahead of the Spanish Super Cup second leg between Barcelona and Atletico Bilbao at the Nou Camp on Monday.

United are keen to tie up a deal for Pedro, having sold Angel Di Maria to Paris St Germain for £44m, a loss of some £15m on the £59.7m they paid Real Madrid for the British record signing.

Although United boss Louis van Gaal is said to have reservations about Pedro's lack of pace but Woodward is said to be in position to close the deal and meet Pedro's release clause of £21.7m.

Following the victory over Sevilla last week, he admitted he is considering his future due to a lack of starting opportunities.

"Manchester?" he said. "Yes, there are nice challenges on all sides.

"Today I'm here [at Barcelona], and I'm happy. And if I go, I will go with my head held high having always given everything. These fans and this club are incredible."

Barcelona have refused to sanction Pedro's departure because they want him to cover for the ill Neymar.

He started the 4-0 first-leg defeat to Bilbao and is expected to do so again this evening - although that is unlikely to affect United's hopes of landing him.