Premier League Rivals’ £19m Bid Rejected, Mourinho Seeking Higher Price For Struggling Midfielder
Jan 3, 2017 at 12:10 PM
Manchester United have rejected Everton’s £19million bid for Morgan Schneiderlin.
Everton boss Ronald Koeman has made the Frenchman a priority signing this month but his early attempts to lure him to Goodison Park have so far been brushed aside.
According to The Telegraph, United won’t consider anything less than £24m as that’s what they paid to sign him from Southampton 18 months ago.
Everton, whose interest in the France international has been known for several weeks, made their first official move for the midfielder at the start of the transfer window but their offer fell short of United’s valuation.
Schneiderlin has fallen out of favour under Jose Mourinho, but the Portuguese boss is keen to keep hold of his players.
He said last week: “We have not received one single offer that we are going to accept.
“I don’t want to sell players. The club and the board is totally with me but, if a player is not having lots of minutes and really wants to leave, we have no right to stop him if the conditions are our conditions.”
With Schneiderlin only making three appearances this season, Everton and West Brom, who have also had an offer rejected, are keen to provide him with a way out of Old Trafford.
Schneiderlin is under contract with the Red Devils until 2019.
West Bromwich Albion had a £13 million bid for the midfielder rejected in December and were thought to be preparing another offer.
But it is Koeman who has made his move, the Dutchman also eager to add another of United’s fringe players – Memphis Depay – to the Everton squad in January.
Everton believe the player would prefer to join Koeman, a manager he knows and trusts. It would appear there is more talking to be done between the United and Everton board before that will be possible.
United will be aware Everton have funds available and Koeman has not hidden his desire to add as much quality as possible to his squad.