Manchester United believe Eric Dier has heart set on move and hope to persuade Tottenham after opening offer rejected
Jose Mourinho earlier this week instructed executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to sign one of Dier or Nemanja Matic, but the hijacking of Chelsea’s bid for Romelu Lukaku has soured relations
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United have already had a bid of just under £25m for Eric Dier turned down, The Independent understands, and it is likely to take more than double that to even tempt Tottenham Hotspur into the idea of a sale.
The London club have repeatedly maintained that the 23-year-old is not for sale at any price, although the Old Trafford hierarchy feel a deal can yet be done, particularly as they believe the player has his heart set on a move to United.
Jose Mourinho earlier this week instructed executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to sign one of Dier or Nemanja Matic, but the hijacking of Chelsea’s bid for Romelu Lukaku has soured relations between United and Stamford Bridge, leaving Dier as the main choice.
There is also the fact that Mourinho wants a player who has proven Premier League experience for the defensive midfield position, as he sees it as a key role for the quick functioning of the team from the start of the 2017-18 season, and would prefer that to someone who has to adapt. There is still interest in Fabinho of Monaco, but he is seen by the Portuguese as a right-back.
United will go back in to Spurs with a bigger offer for Dier, although chief executive Daniel Levy has no interest in selling. There is also a feeling they may have one more tilt at Matic to see if a deal can be done, although Chelsea are unlikely to entertain that prospect now.
As with much this summer, any deals will ultimately depend on how big United are willing to go, but there is said by many at the club to be a new “bullishness” after beating Chelsea to Lukaku and the promise of more deals to come.
Perisic should follow this week, before Mourinho gets a defensive midfielder, while there is still a general desire to bring in a marquee name.
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