Manchester United Make €30m Move For Barcelona Target

Spanish radio station Cadena COPE Catalunya are reporting that Manchester United have approached Athletic Bilbao hoping to sign midfielder Ander Herrera.

The 24 year old midfielder was part of the Bilbao team that comprehensively beat Manchester United over two legs in the 2011/2012 Europa League round of 16 and has caught the eye of a number of Europe’s top sides.

COPE claim United have offered €30m in an attempt to secure Herrera’s services but Bilbao are only willing to do business if the player’s €36m release clause is met.

Herrera has been linked with a number of clubs most recently Barcelona but the player turned down any advances claiming had he joined he would simply have become another face in the crowd:

“For me, Barcelona is too massive.  In their positions, at least in my position, they are perfectly equipped.  The fact that important people like Andoni Zubizarreta and Bielsa think so highly of me is very important and an honour.”

Herrera joined Bilbao in 2011 from Real Zaragoza for €8.5m and whilst his release clause currently stands at €36m, it will rise to €40m for the final two years of the deal.