MANCHESTER UNITED failed in a sensational £89million transfer bid for Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati after giving up on Jadon Sancho, according to stunning reports.
The Red Devils are clearly desperate to bolster their attack when the summer window reopens and have been long-term admirers of Sancho.
Manchester United reportedly made a bid of £89m for Barcelona’s teenage sensation Ansu Fati but were turned down” width=”960″ height=”899″ />
But with the Borussia Dortmund winger not yet convinced of a switch, it is thought United turned their attention elsewhere.
Sport in Spain report the Old Trafford club made an audacious attempt to land 17-year-old Fati – but the Barcelona board turned down the offer.
The article suggests a number of Premier League clubs are monitoring Fati, whose game time was limited after Martin Braithwaite’s arrival.
Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele’s returns to fitness as well as the possible arrival of Lautaro Martinez could mean he gets even fewer minutes in the new season.
So Fati – and in particular his agent Jorge Mendes – are thought to be actively looking to see if a move is possible, even though Barcelona are determined to keep their teenage sensation.
Mendes allegedly called Barca to find out their price tag for the youngster and was told he has a £151m release clause but in any case is not for sale.
The Nou Camp club thought that was the end of that but ten days later Mendes came back, telling the LaLiga leaders he has a potential buyer in the shape of Manchester United.
Barca’s sporting department were forced to take the £89m offer to the board to have the final say and Josep Maria Bartomeu insisted Fati was not to be sold.
They hold the youngster – who has five first-team goals this season – in high regard with big plans for the future so are unwilling to let him go.
And the offer from United is thought to have been a wake-up call for Barcelona, who plan to officially promote Fati permanently into the first team for next season and increase his release clause to around £350m.
More to follow
