Manchester United chiefs say they will try again for Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera.
The Telegraph says United manager David Moyes instructed chief executive Ed Woodward to abandon attempts to sign the 24-year-old after failing to persuade Bilbao to lower their valuation.
United, having offered £26 million for Herrera last Thursday, refused to meet the £30.5 million escape clause in the player's contract, with Moyes taking the view that the midfielder did not justify a fee second only to the £30.75 million club-record signing Dimitar Berbatov.
Senior figures at United have made it clear that Moyes remains a big admirer of Herrera, however, and that efforts are likely to be made again to take him to Old Trafford, potentially during the January transfer window.
