Romelu Lukaku is increasingly resigned to staying at Manchester United after Inter Milan failed to come up with a suitable offer during talks this week.
The Belgium international has growing doubts about the Italian club’s financial ability to prise him away from Old Trafford.
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio flew into London on Thursday to formerly open negotiations with Ed Woodward, but it’s understood he left without making an official offer - much to Lukaku’s frustration.
United made it clear any deal involving a loan or players in exchange would be dismissed out of hand. And they are adamant they will reject any offer that falls below the £75m they paid Everton for the 26-year-old two summers ago.
It’s believed Ausilio returned to Italy without being given an official asking price - but in an inflated market, United are convinced they can make a profit on the second most expensive signing in their history.
That is a huge blow to forward’s hopes of joining up with Antonio Conte at the San Siro.
Lukaku has told Ole Gunnar Solskjær he wants to leave and has confessed to sources close to him that he feels undermined after falling behind Marcus Rashford in the pecking order.
Solskjær is happy to keep him at the club, rather than having to recruit a replacement in a summer when he already intends to add as many as five new players to his squad.
But United would also be happy to secure a profit on a player who is no longer considered an automatic starter.
