Manchester United could've snapped up Dayot Upamecano for a cut-price £200,000, it has been revealed.

Germans Leipzig signed him for £9million in 2017.

And he is now worth around £55m and rated one of Europe's best centre-halves.

Upamecano was at Old Trafford five years ago with his mum and agent as a deal was lined up with then club Valenciennes — only to fall apart over a small sum of money.

The defender, 21, was just 16 when he arrived at United in the hope of sealing his dream deal to one of Europe's giant clubs.

But instead, Upamecano and his party went away upset as United chiefs only offered £500,000 while the French club demanded £700,000.

It was considered too much to pay for a player who was already in the France under-16 and U-17 teams and tipped for the top.

An insider in the deal told The Sun: “Dayot wanted to join United and the fee really was nothing.

“At first he got the red-carpet treatment but then they would not go that bit further with their offer and he was gone."