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Premier League giants Manchester United have reportedly made a £60 million bid for Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller, according to The Independent. German newspaper Bild had also reported that an €85 million bid was made for Muller (approximately £59.8 million).
It is deal that could break their own transfer record when they spent £59.7 million to bring Angel Di Maria to Old Trafford from Real Madrid last season. The deal would also be a record British transfer fee if it goes through.
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United can offer Muller higher wages
Red Devils coach Louis van Gaal is yet to deliver on the “surprise signing” he promised in July, and it looks like Muller might is his top priority before the transfer window closes. The German World Cup winner was given his debut at Bayern Munich when the Dutch boss took charge at Bayern Munich in 2009.
Muller had come through the youth academy and rose through the ranks at the club. He was instrumental in both the club’s double triumph in 2009/10 and the treble winning season under Jupp Heynckes in 2012/13, scoring 19 goals and 23 goals respectively.
However, he hasn’t been able to nail down a permanent spot in the squad after Pep Guardiola took over the Bavarian club in 2013. He has also been played in many different positions under the Catalan boss and was taken off more than 20 times in the 2014/15 season. Muller scored 13 goals and grabbed 10 assists last season as Bayern won the Bundesliga title.
The 25-year-old has a contract at Bayern until 2019, but his wages aren’t exactly astronomical for a Premier League club of Manchester United’s stature. His current wages are reportedly in the region of £135,000 per week. It is a figure the Old Trafford club can easily double if they wanted to.
Wayne Rooney is the only world class striker in the squad with Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao no longer at United. The only other strikers are the inconsistent Javier Hernandez and the young James Wilson.
“Van Gaal had a huge effect on my development. I am very grateful to him – he gave me great help and leadership, and he saw something in me as a forward, where some others didn’t.” – Muller on Van Gaal
Muller will not be sold to United: Bayern CEO
But it also looks like Bayern are not willing to sell another player to strengthen Manchester United in this transfer window. After selling Bastian Schweinsteiger for approximately £10 million this summer, the Bundesliga champions have no intention of letting go of one of their prized assets.
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinze Rummenigge said: “I can calm all the worries of all Bayern supporters. We will not let another player leave for Manchester United.”
Whether United will go back with a final improved bid and try and prise Muller away from Guardiola’s side will be the subject of the remaining two weeks of the transfer window.
