Manchester United will need to significantly increase their offer for Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka after the club rejected their opening bid of £40million for the defender.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to sign a top-quality replacement for Antonio Valencia, who has been released at the end of his deal, and England Under-21 international Wan-Bissaka has been identified as the perfect successor.
United wants to get their summer business done early and made a ‘substantial’ offer for the defender in the past few days, as reported by Sky sports news.
However, The Telegraph claim that Palace have rejected that offer, worth in excess of £40m including bonuses, and are adamant they do not want to lose one of their best players from last campaign.
United are expected to return with an improved offer, though Crystal Palace believe Wan-Bissaka is worth a surprising £60m – a fee that could prove too steep for the Red devils.
Wan-Bissaka only recently signed a new deal at Selhurst Park which will keep him at the club until 2022 and isn’t pushing for a transfer, giving Palace a very strong bargaining position.
Speaking about his future at the end of the campaign, Wan-Bissaka said: ‘I am with Crystal Palace at the moment. That is where my contract is and that is where I will be next season.
‘I have got three years left on my contract. It says I am going to be there, so that is all I can focus on now.’
United have already agreed an £18m deal for Swansea star Daniel James and, in addition to a new right-back, are also believed to want a central-back, a holding midfielder and an attacking midfielder.
Juan Mata has been offered a new deal but Ander Herrera and club captain Valencia were released by the club.
United will start their pre-season against Perth Glory on July 13 and will remain in the city for a friendly match against Leeds United just four days later.
