ManU move for Rashford replacement COLLAPSES - giving Arsenal free run at deal

Manchester United's move for Mathys Tel has reportedly collapsed to hand Arsenal a free run at the wantaway Bayern Munich star.

United had moved into pole position for the Frenchman, who has struggled for game-time at Bayern this season. Tel rejected a move to Tottenham last week, giving United hope that they could complete their own deal for him.

The Red Devils are in the market for attacking reinforcements with Marcus Rashford set to join Aston Villa on loan. Kobbie Mainoo was played as a false nine by boss Ruben Amorim against Crystal Palace on Sunday, though the experiment backfire, with United slipping to a dismal defeat.

Tel had been identified as their top target, with the 19-year-old understood to be keen to move to Old Trafford. But United's pursuit for the attacker now appears to be dead in the water.

According to multiple reports, negotiations between United and Bayern have 'completely collapsed'. No agreement could be reached despite the club's holding extensive talks over the course of the weekend.

Bayern are said to 'rejected everything' United have offered them and Tel's proposed move to Manchester will 'not happen'. While United now appear to be out of the race, Arsenal are very much still in it.

The Gunners are also desperate for attacking recruits as they bid to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool. According to the Daily Mail, United and Bayern could not come to an agreement over payment terms and a resolution is considered 'unlikely'.

Tel has scored 16 goals in 83 appearances for Bayern but is now looking for an exit after falling out of favour under Vincent Kompany. United boss Amorim was directly asked about his side's chances of signing Tel following the defeat to Palace, but kept his cards close to his chest.

"Like I said, when the window has closed, we will see the players, I am focused to improve the team as a group. We need to win more games, we will try to do that, this season is like that. We need to win, small improvements, try to win points, give winning momentum, then we have setbacks and then we go again. But I think it’s clear that we need to improve," he said.

"Today, we choose to play with Kobbie to use the characteristics of Kobbie. It’s not nothing against Rasmus or Josh. And, sometimes, the team scores goals by creating situations, to use the right characteristics. It doesn’t mean if you play with two strikers you are going to score more goals. So I think it’s a problem for the team and we have spoken about that all the time.

"We need to improve our performance in every aspect of the game, especially scoring goals. We are trying everything to improve the team without doing mistakes of the past, and trying to balance the urgency of the moment, so we know all the aspect of our club in the moment, but we are trying everything.

"We have to improve as a team to score goals, and we are trying the best to improve the team. This market is really hard on the clubs, to make some deals here, it’s hard. Then you have this urgency, sometimes when you are in this moment, you make some mistakes, we are trying everything. We want so bad to improve, I want so bad to improve the team, I know what the team needs, but sometimes it’s possible or not, but we are trying everything."