PARIS — Paris St. Germain continued its spending spree Wednesday by agreeing terms to buy midfielder Lucas, one of Brazil's most exciting young players, from Sao Paulo, the Ligue 1 club said. PSG said the 19-year-old, who had also been chased by Inter Milan, would join them in January on a 4-1/2 year contract. He is in Brazil's squad at the Olympic Games in London and has also played for his country's senior side. “By signing a young talent of the quality of Lucas Rodrigues Moura Da Silva, Paris Saint-Germain is already preparing (for) the future,” the French club said. PSG did not disclose the transfer fee which has been widely reported by local media to be about 45 million euros ($55.61 million). Qatari-backed PSG had already spent more than 100 million euros on players in the close season in an attempt to dominate Ligue 1 and challenge for European honors. New signings have included forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Thiago Silva from AC Milan and Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi from Napoli. Their splurge is bound to raise questions about whether they can fit in with UEFA's Financial Fair Play policy designed to stop clubs spending more than they can afford. Lucas, an attacking midfielder, helped Brazil win the South American under-20 championship in Peru last year, scoring a hat trick as it demolished Uruguay 6-0 in the final. He made his Sao Paulo debut in 2010, having joined the club five years earlier. United chasing van Persie Manchester United is trying to sign Dutch international striker Robin van Persie from Premier League rival Arsenal, said manager Alex Ferguson. “We have made a bid,” Ferguson told his club's website. “We're trying our best but there's no progress at this moment in time. “We're not getting any breakthrough with Arsenal. I don't know what their thoughts are because they're not giving anything away.” Van Persie announced in July that he would not be extending his contract with the Londoners because he was unhappy with the direction they were taking. The 29-year-old, who has one year remaining on his contract, has been with Arsenal since 2004. Van Persie was the league's top scorer last season with 30 goals, three more than United spearhead Wayne Rooney who finished in second place. The new season kicks off on Aug. 18. — Agencies
