Manchester United have seen a double opening bid for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui rejected by Bayern Munich. Erik ten Hag is determined to bolster his defensive options and the club has identified Mazraoui and De Ligt as top targets.
Both players favour a move to Old Trafford and have agreed personal terms with the Reds but Aaron Wan-Bissaka's exit must be sanctioned first.
United have pushed to complete deals for both players by submitting a double bid. However, Bayern's rejection has left players and agent baffled. READ MORE: Manchester United boosted by the return of four players ahead of Man City fixture READ MORE: Erik ten Hag has discovered two new exciting Manchester United options The Athletic states there was optimism at Old Trafford and among the players' representative, Rafaela Pimenta, that their offer would meet Bayern's expectations.
But instead, Bayern's rejection caused some bemusement in the camp of De Ligt and Mazraoui. Talks are ongoing and the Bundesliga giants have informed their counterparts a higher fee will be needed to reach an agreement.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk