Manchester United look set to cool their interest in Aston Villa star Jack Grealish after being unwilling to meet their £75m valuation of the attacking midfielder.
Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is known to be a huge fan of Grealish, who scored eight goals and created six assists for his side in the Premier League this season.
He helped save Villa from relegation by netting in the 1-1 draw against West Ham on the final day of the season, and the fact that they did not go down has strengthened the midlands club's bargaining hand.
According to Metro, United have discussed an opening offer of £45m along with a series of add-ons that would take the deal up to around £55m.
This is expected to be flatly rejected by Villa, however, who are now not in such a need to sell after guaranteeing themselves Premier League football for next season.
Despite United's admiration of the player, they have a number of other transfer targets in the pipeline, with Dortmund's Jadon Sancho known to be their No.1 priority this summer.
They are therefore unwilling to pay over the odds for Grealish, and it could mean the 24-year-old is set for another season at his hometown club.
Some believe he has his heart set on a move to Old Trafford, however, with former United striker Michael Owen among those who think he could well try to force a move in the coming months.
“I think he’s after Manchester United as well", Owen told Premier League Productions . "I’m told he has his heart set on Manchester United. I’d be surprised if he went anywhere else.”
"He’ll be more expensive now to possible suitors. There is that tie now that it’s his team and they’re still in the Premier League.
"It would have been an easier decision if they went down. You can’t have someone like that playing in the Championship.
"He’s a top player, he would suit an awful lot of teams; he’s exceptional."
