Daniel James is expected to complete a £15m move from Swansea City to Manchester United today.
The 21-year-old winger is understood to have been released from Wales’ camp in Chester to undergo a medical and sign up for the Premier League giants.
It is a move that Swansea fans have been bracing themselves for since the end of the season and they will be hoping it does not signal the start of a wave of departures from the managerless club.
James had been with Ryan Giggs’ squad for the Euro 2020 qualification double-header against Croatia and Hungary but is thought to have been given permission to complete his transfer.
He is then expected to rejoin the national squad before they fly out to Croatia later today.
The move will cap an astonishing rise for James who was not even considered worthy of a place in the Swans’ squad 18 months ago and was sent out on loan.
But last season, James added more control and composure to his game to go alongside his blistering natural pace and he gave a hint of the measure of his talent with an incredible solo goal in the FA Cup against Brentford.
That was part of a purple patch for James, who went on the score on his Wales debut in the opening Euro qualifier against Slovakia.
With Giggs acting as a sounding board for current United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, James was pinpointed as exactly the kind of bold, exciting home-grown talent around which the fallen giants want to rebuild.
His move to United was delayed, however, following the sudden and unexpected death of his father, Kevan, which also meant he withdrew from a recent Wales training camp in Portugal.
Former Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen believes James is now ready for a move to the Premier League.
“I can only give you my opinion, I think he is ready for it,” said Allen.
“He is a level-headed lad who has huge ability and I am sure he wants to show it at the highest level he can.
“I am confident he can do that. He has had a great season. I remember even at the start of the year that was all the info I was getting from Swansea was that he had come on brilliantly.
“You go back to the start of the season and I don’t think it wasn’t that obvious.
“I think from the Welsh point of view, a lot of the lads knew him of course and knew the talent he has, but second half of the season he has been on fire there.”
