Man Utd Deal In Doubt As Spaniards Confirm They’ve Rejected €36m Bid

As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Man Utd have seen their bid for Ander Herrera rejected.

It seemed as though it was a ‘done deal’ but in a shocking late twist, Athletic Bilbao have announced this morning that they’ve rejected Manchester United’s €36m bid for midfielder Ander Herrera.

News broke on Tuesday that United were closing in on their first major signing of the summer after supposedly activating a €36m (£28.8m) buy-out clause in Herrera’s contract.

The Daily Mail claimed that with the 24-year-old’s release fee increasing to €40m on the 1st July, United had decided to move quickly and the player was believed to have agreed terms over a four-year deal worth £50,000-a-week.

Further speculation just last night suggested that Herrera had already said his goodbyes to his Bilbao team mates and was heading to Manchester to wrap up the deal after apparently completing a medical.

However, it seems talk of a ‘done deal’ was a little premature as Bilbao have now sensationally announced on their official website that they have in fact REJECTED United’s €36m bid. A statement read:

The Athletic Club wishes to report that this week rejected an offer from Manchester United FC, ​​estimated at 36 million euros, to transfer the federation and economic rights of the player Ander Herrera.

It’s a rather confusing situation as the player was believed to have a €36m buy-out clause inserted into his contract, but it appears those suggestions are wide of the mark and United are now going to have to up their bid if they want to bring the talented midfielder to the Premier League.

We’ll have to see how United respond to this news and Herrera’s future will remain up in the air until the situation is resolved. Will Herrera end up a United player or be forced to remain at Bilbao? You can check the odds at allpro, but the transfer seems like it’s gone too far for it to collapse at this stage.

New United boss Louis van Gaal is expected to be active in the transfer window this summer and midfield is likely to be an area of concern with Marouane Fellaini failing to impress following his move from Everton last summer and Tom Cleverley under fire for some inconsistent displays, so Herrera would add some much needed quality to the center of the park if he does end up moving to Old Trafford.

However, with Bilbao holding out for more is seem the deposed champions are going to have to dig a little deeper if they want to land one of Spain’s most highly-rated young midfielders.