Club set to return to negotiating table with £40m+ bid for Chelsea outcast
Britain Soccer Football - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League - Stamford Bridge - 26/12/16 Bournemouth's Joshua King in action with Chelsea's Nemanja Matic Action Images via Reuters / Tony O'Brien Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Manchester United have given up on trying to sign Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier and will return with another bid for Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic, according to the Independent.
Sources at the Manchester club told the newspaper that Spurs refused to negotiate with United, and boss Jose Mourinho is now keen on recruiting Matic once again after making a £35m bid for the 28 year old earlier this month.
The Serbian international is not in Chelsea manager Antonio Conte’s first team plans after the signing of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco, but the Blues are likely to make things as difficult as possible for United.
It has been reported by the Daily Telegraph that owner Roman Abramovich is willing to sell Matic to United but only in return for £50m. The Independent says that Jose Mourinho is prepared to go above £40m to land the midfield enforcer but whether the two clubs will agree a fee, it remains to be seen.