Manchester United bid for Ander Herrera hijacked by 'imposters'

Manchester United failed in their bid for Herrera under bizarre circumstances. (Getty Images)

Manchester United‘s bid to sign Ander Herrera failed in bizarre circumstances as three men, who reportedly attempted to negotiate a deal for the midfielder with Athletic Bilbao were not acting on behalf of the club.

The following is a tweet from BBC Radio Manchester’s official twitter account:

The three men were dressed in black suits and managed to get into the Spanish league headquarters and start a negotiation for Ander Herrera with Athletic Bilbao, while posing as Manchester United officials but left after an hour as they were unable to complete the paperwork.

Various sources claimed that David Moyes was, in the end, ready to pay the 24-year-old’s release clause but a complication caused by a technicality in Spanish tax law meant that United still fell roughly €6 million short.

#manutd confirm 3 men who reportedly attempted to negotiate a deal for Ander Herrera were imposters & not acting on club’s behalf #mufc

— BBC Radio Manchester (@bbcradiomanc) September 2, 2013