Manchester United have submitted an opening double offer to sign Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.
The Old Trafford hierarchy want to bolster their ranks by landing both defenders and stepped up their pursuit on Thursday via a joint bid.
There was optimism at United and among the players’ representatives that this would satisfy Bayern’s expectations for squad members they deem surplus to requirements.
But the proposal was rejected and the Bundesliga side told their Premier League counterparts it will need a higher fee to reach an agreement, with talks ongoing.
It has caused some bemusement in the camp of De Ligt and Mazraoui — represented by the same agent, Rafaela Pimenta — based on their understanding of what it would require to get a deal over the line.
Bayern informed the pair before the summer market opened that neither were part of their plans and transfers should be sought, insisting the club would compromise to help the process.
The resistance United’s enquiries subsequently met led De Ligt and Mazraoui’s people to ask Bayern whether their stance on the centre-back and full-back had changed, yet the position was reiterated.
If that is the case, the longer the situation lasts the more financially costly it may become to Bayern — given their sizeable salaries.
Personal terms for De Ligt and Mazraoui are already in place on five-year contracts, which include an option to extend by 12 months.
New defensive signing Leny Yoro was earlier this week ruled out for three months with a foot injury while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is of interest to West Ham United.
(Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
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