Man Utd 'preparing' surprise £69m double bid in closing days of transfer window

Manchester United are preparing a double bid worth in excess of £69 million in the closing days of the transfer window, it has been reported.

Michael Carrick's side lost their opening Premier League fixture of the season 2-0 to Hull City on Saturday lunchtime.

New signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans were both given debuts as part of United's new-look midfield, which has been further strengthened by the arrival of Carlos Baleba from Brighton for a fee of £70 million.

But United are still searching for at least a left-back, with competition sought for Luke Shaw as the club prepare for their return to the Champions League.

Newcastle's Lewis Hall is the top target, but the Magpies have branded him unsellable after selling a number of key players already this summer.

Barcelona's Alejandro Balde has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as an alternative.

Fabrizio Romano revealed last week that the 22-year-old did not want to leave Camp Nou 'in principle' but would depart if the Spanish giants told him he could depart.

He missed their 5-0 La Liga win over Elche on Sunday, but manager Hansi Flick said he was 'not 100 per cent ready'. He will instead be named in the squad to face Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.

Romano has since reiterated that Balde has told Barca he wants to 'compete for a spot' at the club, but will leave the final decision up to whether the Spanish giants want to keep him or not.

"Only a big proposal from a top club can change the scenario from now to Deadline Day," he added.

Man Utd 'preparing' double bid' for La Liga duo

According to journalist Francisco Jose Delgado, speaking on Spanish radio station Cadena SER, United are preparing a total €80 million (£69.5m) offer to sign two La Liga players at the same time.

Delgado claims that United are set to bid around €30 million to sign Balde from Barcelona 'at the close of the transfer window'.

But they are also said to be keen on re-igniting their long-standing interest in Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.

United's interest in the France international dates back to 2021, when he was an 18-year-old with Rennes and, although he made 43 appearances in all competitions for Real last season, his long-term future at the Spanish club isn't explicitly clear.

Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga pictured (Image: Getty)

"An intermediary with good international contacts told me this morning that United is preparing an offer of 30 million for Balde and another of 50 million for Camavinga to be submitted at the close of the transfer window," Delgado claims.

Speaking in his post-match press conference on Sunday after Real Madrid's 2-1 La Liga win over Espanyol, new Los Blancos boss Mourinho did not rule out further players leaving the Bernabeu this summer.

"For me the squad is closed," he said. "But the market is open. You never know if a player will come and say, 'I've been benched twice and I want to leave'. In theory, no. But something could always happen.

"In my head, the squad is closed, and I have not asked for anyone. I am very happy with the players I have."