Ed Woodward pulls plug on Mandzukic Man United’s Transfer

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has reportedly called off the club’s pursuit of Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic.

Juve offered Manzdukic to United when the two clubs were in talks over an exchange involving Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku and the Red Devils maintained an interest in the 33-year-old Croatian when the swap deal collapsed.

With Lukaku now on the verge of a move a £74million Inter Milan, United have been exploring the possibility of buying Mandzukic outright, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer desperate for a new attacker before the transfer deadline.

 The Norwegian had been willing to sanction a bid for Mandzukic in order to provide back-up for Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, who are set to lead the line for United this coming season following Lukaku’s departure.

However, according to The Times, Juve’s asking price of £14m for Mandzukic was viewed as excessive by United and Woodward pulled the plug on a potential transfer. The forward’s £150,000-a-week wage demands were also proving to be a sticking point.

It means United are unlikely to bring in any further reinforcements this summer, with Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire the only new arrivals at Old Trafford.

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore claimed that United would have been making a ‘big mistake’ by signing Mandzukic.

‘Man United could end up with Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic and this is just sloppy seconds,’ Collymore said earlier this week. ‘Fans get excited about names but managers get excited about pieces of the jigsaw.

‘If Croatian striker Mandzukic wasn’t offered in a potential swap deal for Romelu Lukaku would he be someone United want? Surely not. ‘I am not convinced Mandzukic is anything other than a big-name and United should walk away from a potential big mistake.’

FROM  metro.co.uk/ed-woodward-pulls-plug-manchester-uniteds-transfer-move-mario-mandzukic-