Manchester United made two bids for Ansu Fati, with the second worth up to €150 million, and the club could yet return with a third bid.
Last week it was reported that a club made an inquiry for teenage forward sensation Fati and then came back with a bid of €100 million, with United reportedly the guilty party.
Now The Times are reporting that they returned with a second bid, through an intermediary, worth up to €150 million with add ons.
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With Barcelona unwilling to sell the 17-year-old at the moment they have pointed to the player's transfer release clause, which currently stands at €170 million.
Barcelona director Xavier Vilajoana discussed the potential transfer last week, saying, "For us, there's no story with Ansu, we have never spoken about selling him.
"We won't use players from the academy to make cash. In principle, we have no intention of selling the players we believe will make the first team."
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Barca are in need of funds as they have had well documented money issues even before the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced pretty high cuts in player wages, and will try to offload some players in the summer.
The likes of Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Nelson Semedo are up for sale but the Spanish champions are struggling to find buyers.
With several clubs, including United, interested in Fati, after his impressive debut season, one Barca source told the British paper "All the big clubs want him. They're saying, 'If you want money, sell us Ansu Fati.'"
With Fati's people already reportedly worried about his game time, and the Catalan giants still trying to sign both Neymar and Lautaro Martinez in the summer, the Guinea-Bissau born forward's time on the pitch could decrease next season.
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Barca already have Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez and Martin Braithwaite upfront and if they can't sell Coutinho or Dembele then it'll be a real scrap for minutes.
"Ansu is anxious to make it at Barcelona, but the club's current transfer plans aren't good news for him," a friend of the player told the British newspaper.
United, and others, could then find a chance to strike and still sign Fati, although the La Liga leaders will no doubt still look for a hefty amount.
Any move for Fati could mean the end for United's interest in Jadon Sancho, with the Borussia Dortmund forward also likely to cost in the region of €100 million.
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Do you think United will sign Fati in the summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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