Manchester United in fresh £42.5m double raid on Lazio stars

Manchester United have been dealt a transfer blow with Lucas Biglia having told Lazio that he intends to stay at the Stadio Olimpico, according to reports from Corriere dello Sport.

Italian reports from newspaper Carriere della Sera suggest that United are set to return to Lazio with improved offers for Anderson and De Vrij, after seeing initial bids rebuffed by the Serie A side.

United have already brought in five new faces this summer, but only one has been more defensively minded – Torino’s Matteo Darmian arriving for £12.7m – but their search for a new centre-back has proved to be a greater struggle. Stefan De Vrij is one of the Man United boss’ preferred transfer options but Lazio rejected an £18 million bid for the 23-year-old.

The Manchester club will also up their bid for Brazilian attacking talent Felipe Anderson – an ideal replacement for Paris bound Angel di Maria – after seeing a £24.5million offer rejected.

Anderson was a huge factor in the Biancocelesti finishing third last season and clinching a spot in the Champions League for the first time since 2007-08.

With Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos set to sign a new contract at the Bernabeu, Van Gaal has turned his attention to De Vrij who he selected as part of his Holland squad for the 2014 World Cup.