Jérôme Boateng has phoned José Mourinho to tell him that he will not join Manchester United this summer. United made contact with Bayern Munich on Sunday to inquire what it would cost to sign the Germany international but the deal is now dead before the Premier League club even made an official bid.
Mourinho is desperately trying to bolster a squad that has struggled in pre-season with Boateng one of several names given by the Portuguese manager to the United executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, before the summer. However, so far United have only added the Brazil midfielder Fred for £55m, the 19-year-old full-back Diogo Dalot for £19m and the back-up goalkeeper Lee Grant for £1.5m.
Bayern value Boateng, who has a contract until 2021, between €50m and €60m. United were only prepared to pay up to €30m for the former Manchester City centre-half.
Boateng told Mourinho that he believes more in the Bayern project at the moment and that the chances of winning the Champions League are bigger with the German champions than at United. Paris St-Germain are still interested in signing the 2014 World Cup winner.
United, meanwhile, have turned down a Barcelona bid for £45m plus Yerry Mina and André Gomes for Paul Pogba. The club is not considering any offers for the Frenchman. – Guardian service
