Manchester United make €30 million bid for 21-year-old Spanish midfielder which was responded with a smile – reports

Manchester United have reportedly made a €30 million but for Barcelona midfielder Fermín López according to Tuesday’s edition of Sport in Spain. It is reported by Sport Witness that the La Liga club will need to sell some of their players this summer and United could be taking advantage of that.

It has been claimed that the Catalan club ‘responded with a smile’ before rejecting United’s off for López according to the report. Supposedly Hansi Flick’s side feel that the offer is insufficient and the club are not willing to sell the Spain international at all, which may not necessarily be true.

The 21-year-old came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy and made it into the first team last season where he made 42 appearances at senior level, scoring 11 goals and one assist in all competitions. He is a player who is highly-rated at the Catalan club – but everyone has a price.

Sport have reported that the 21-year-old is valued at €30 million, which is an increase on his previous valuation, which is the same about that Erik ten Hag’s side have reportedly offered Barcelona this summer. United will ‘have to stretch further’ in order to sign López.

It was added that Barcelona will only consider selling the player if they receive a ‘irrefutable offer’ from a club – which is what most clubs will do with players they see value in. Barcelona need money and every club out there knows it and Barcelona so not want to lower their demands.

There is no mention of the fee needed in order for United to sign the 21-year-old this summer, but knowing Barcelona, they will demand a lot more than has been offered because they can sell players for highly inflated fees but moan when they have to buy players at highly-inflated fees.

Sport Witness added that the ‘Catalan media have been claiming bids and interest regarding multiple players and it feels more for a domestic audience than reality’, which makes me think they are adding the supposed interest of clubs like United to get sales in Spain, which is dishonest.

But that is Barcelona. They would not be in the financial hole they are in if they were honest. It is a club that is run a lot worse than United is, and that is saying something. Whether United really are interested in the Spanish midfielder remains to be seen at this stage of the summer transfer window.

Written by Paul