United, who have repeatedly been linked with the Argentine, have scouted the 23-year-old for the past year.
However, City will reportedly out-bid them with an offer of £35m at the end of the season.
The Premier League leaders are thought to have contacted the Portuguese side earlier this week over a possible move.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Arsenal | 36 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 88 | 28 | 60 | 83 |
| 2 | Manchester CityMan City | 34 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 82 | 32 | 50 | 79 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 35 | 22 | 9 | 4 | 77 | 36 | 41 | 75 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 35 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 73 | 52 | 21 | 67 |
| 5 | Tottenham HotspurSpurs | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 67 | 54 | 13 | 60 |
| 6 | Newcastle UnitedNewcastle | 35 | 17 | 5 | 13 | 78 | 56 | 22 | 56 |
| 7 | Manchester UnitedMan Utd | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 52 | 51 | 1 | 54 |
| 8 | Chelsea | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 65 | 59 | 6 | 51 |
| 9 | West Ham UnitedWest Ham | 35 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 56 | 65 | -9 | 49 |
| 10 | Bournemouth | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 52 | 63 | -11 | 48 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton WanderersWolves | 35 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 48 | 55 | -7 | 46 |
| 12 | Fulham | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 51 | 55 | -4 | 44 |
| 13 | Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 52 | 57 | -5 | 44 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 35 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 45 | 57 | -12 | 40 |
| 15 | Everton | 36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 38 | 49 | -11 | 37 |
| 16 | Brentford | 36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 52 | 60 | -8 | 36 |
| 17 | Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest | 36 | 8 | 9 | 19 | 45 | 63 | -18 | 29 |
| 18 | Luton TownLuton | 36 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 49 | 78 | -29 | 26 |
| 19 | Burnley | 36 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 39 | 74 | -35 | 24 |
| R | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 36 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 35 | 100 | -65 | 16 |
| > Premier League Full Table | |||||||||
