Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward reportedly pulled the plug on a move for Mario Mandzukic because Juventus’ asking price for the striker was too high.
The Red Devils were looking at the Croatian as a potential replacement for Romelu Lukaku after the forward completed a much-anticipated £74m move to Inter Milan.
Mandzukic, 33, first emerged as a potential signing for United while they were in talks with the Italian champions over a potential swap deal involving Paulo Dybala and Lukaku.
Although the proposed trade fell through, the Premier League club maintained an interest in signing the striker outright after Lukaku’s departure looked increasingly likely.
However, The Times reports that United ended their pursuit of Mandzukic because Woodward believed Juventus’ £14m valuation was excessive.
According to the publication, the Red Devils were also unwilling to meet the striker’s £150,000-a-week wages.
United’s inability to reach an agreement with the Serie A side meant that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not able to add any new names to his squad on deadline day, with Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire already completing moves to Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Lukaku ended his two-year stay with the Manchester club by signing a five-year contract with Italian giants Inter.
The 26-year-old scored 42 goals in 96 games for United after his £75m move from Everton in 2017.
“Inter were the only club I wanted,” said the Belgian international after joining Antonio Conte’s side.
“I’m here to bring the Nerazzurri back to the top.”
