United weren’t going to challenge Chelsea for Havertz

UNITED had no intention of meeting Kai Havertz’s asking price as they opted against a move for the attacking midfielder.

The German international sealed a £71m transfer to Chelsea last week as he became the secondmost expensive signing in the club’s history.

Havertz is the seventh summer addition for Frank Lampard’s side after Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Xavier Mbuyamba, Malang Sarr, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva.

M.E.N. Sport understand United had no interest in moving for Havertz while they still pursued a deal for priority target Jadon Sancho, with the 21-year-old viewed as a possible alternative to the Borussia Dortmund star rather than an additional signing.

United completed a £34.6m deal to sign Donny van de Beek last week and know a deal for Sancho would cost them in the region of £108m.

It would therefore require a combined £150m to attract Van de Beek and Sancho, a total they have never exceeded in a single summer transfer window on permanent additions.

M.E.N. Sport reported in June that Havertz was keen to sign for a Premier League side this summer but that he would only consider a move to a side playing in the Champions League.

It naturally opened the door for a potential move to Old Trafford in this window following United’s third-placed finish in the Premier League, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side remain focused on pursuing Sancho instead.

Havertz made it clear early he was keen to play regularly next season and consolidate a place in the Germany team ahead of consecutive tournament years in 2021 and 2022.

United are open to signing a new centre-back if the right candidate is available for an acceptable fee this summer and the club are monitoring Real Madrid left-back Sergio Reguilon.