Manchester United have run into the same problem in their attempts to sign a midfielder this summer, despite switching targets to Sander Berge.
United have been keen to land a central midfielder in the summer transfer window after making an early double splash for Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro. They had initially been determined to make Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte their next major signing of the window, but have been frustrated by the French club’s negotiating stance.
PSG only signed Ugarte from Sporting Lisbon last year for £51.1m and want to make a profit on any sale, even after landing Joao Neves for £60m from Benfica. United decided to move on to the more affordable Sander Berge – a player they have long admired – yet Burnley are playing a similar game, albeit with lower stakes, to PSG.
The Sun reports that after making contact with Berge’s representatives, they were informed that the Clarets wanted £30m for the Norway international. United are only willing to pay £20m for the midfielder, who was signed from Sheffield United for £12m last summer.
Burnley were relegated from the Premier League last season and Berge is keen to move back up a division. Yet the demotion actually strengthens their hand, with Scott Parker’s side able to point to a £100m parachute payment as a reason why they don’t need to sell their star midfielder.
Erik ten Hag has made it clear that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the new executives he has put in place are on the same page regarding new additions. But with moves for Bayern Munich pair Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui also on the go, things could be more complicated.
"This new leadership team is really eager to do business, to make deals, and they are on it," Ten Hag said recently. "But if the timing is there we have to make it. If the opportunities are there. I don’t know, I can’t say in this moment, but I am sure, when they are there, they will go for it."
A move for Berge is linked to the future of Scott McTominay, who is the subject of firm interest from Fulham. The London side have seen three bids rejected for the Scotland international and are yet to decide whether they will meet United’s valuation.
United want a package of £30m if they are to sell McTominay, who has been made available for transfer alongside Jadon Sancho, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro and Victor Lindelof due to profit and sustainability concerns. While United have pressed ahead with the moves for Zirkzee and Yoro, they know they need to make some sales in order to balance the books.
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