MANCHESTER UNITED BOSS David Moyes says the club have tabled an improved offer for Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
The Old Trafford outfit made a bid for the former Arsenal skipper last week but Moyes now admits that an increased £30m plus add-ons package has been put together by club chiefs.
Newly-installed United chief Edward Woodward returned to Manchester from the team’s tour in the southern hemisphere last week to focus on securing some big-name signings.
“As I understand it, Ed had a response,” Moyes said today. “We have made a second offer but Ed is dealing with it rather than me.
“When you’re interested in good players you want to give it every opportunity to materialise and I’ll do that. I hope things can continue and move forward. At this moment in time I can only tell you that Ed Woodward is working hard trying to make the deals happen. We can only hope that some of them fall into place shortly,” he told the press in Tokyo.
Barcelona vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu was quoted by Spanish daily Sport on Friday however: “Barcelona can assure you we will not entertain any offers for Cesc. It is totally ruled out, he’s not for sale.”
United are set on signing the Spaniard to bolster their midfield stocks after the retirement of Paul Scholes last season. The former Arsenal captain has spent two years at Barcelona, but is not always a first-choice starter, and Moyes has made Fabregas his top target ahead of the new season. Arsenal are reported to have first option on signing the 26-year-old if he returns to England, but United’s intent has been shown with a second bid. They were said to have made a rejected £25million bid last week, with the new figure estimated to have risen to £30m plus add-ons.
The Premier League champions will play J.League outfit Yokohama F. Marinos on Tuesday.
