Manchester United are ready to match Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie's massive wage demands, as the Red Devils get ready open up further talks with Lucas Moura's representatives.
Van Persie has been repeatedly linked with United, Manchester City and Italian champions Juventus also interested in signing last year's top scorer in the English Premier League.
The 28-year-old is demanding wages on par with the highest earner Wayne Rooney's, believed to be around £220,000 a week ($345,500), and United are ready to match that, or at least offer up to £200,000 a week ($314,000). However, the sticking point will be United's transfer offer to Arsenal.
The Red Devils are not willing to offer more than £15 million ($23.5 million) for an injury-prone player, who will turn 29 next month. Arsenal are holding out for £30 million ($47 million), but might settle for a fee between £20-30 million ($31-47 million).
Juventus, meanwhile, have become the frontrunners, by offering Van Persie wages of £190,000 a week ($298,000) after tax, according to the Daily Mirror. The Old Lady of Turin are also willing to part with over £20 million for the Dutch star, as the Italians look to bolster their attacking line-up ahead of the Champions League campaign.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admitted, it would be really difficult for City to sign Van Persie this summer.
Arsene Wenger would prefer to sell his striker to a club outside England, but has repeatedly insisted he is hopeful of convincing Van Persie to remain in North London.
Meanwhile, United officials are all set to hold talks with Moura's family, who are in England to watch their son play for Brazil in the Olympics. According to reports coming out of South America, Sir Alex Ferguson has not given up on signing the 19-year-old, and could increase their bid to match Sao Paulo's asking price.
Sao Paulo director of football, Adalberto Baptista, in a bid to keep Moura in Brazil, admitted he would be open to renegotiate the player's contract.
"It's possible we change his contract," Baptista told UOL. "He has four more years of contract. We may call him to extend, renegotiate his contract, maybe for 18 more months."
Baptista also played down the links about Moura's parents talking to United officials.
"His family went to England just to watch the Olympics, they had already told us they would.
"They want to follow their son, like any parents would in a competition like that. There is no negotiation, no talks, anything."
Moura, had earlier, refused to rule out a move, saying he will make a decision after the Olympics. "At the moment I'm a Sao Paulo player and I'm focused on the Olympics," he told ESPN Brasil.
"I don't want to worry about this. If I am meant to leave now, it will happen. Otherwise, I'll remain calm because I'm still very young.
"After the Olympics are over, I'll decide. If I stay at Sao Paulo, I'll be happy because it's the club where I started my career."
Meanwhile, after a lot of dilly-dallying United confirmed their intentions to sell just over 10 percent of their club on the New York Stock Exchange. The club hope to raise $300 million (£191 million) from the sale, as the Glazer family looks to shed the massive debt of over £400 million ($627 million) accrued by them after taking over the club.
It was understood, the entire money earned would be used to reduce the massive debt, but the prospectus released by United, indicates only half of the amount will be used, with the rest going directly to the Glazer family. If that is indeed the case, it is sure to further infuriate United's supporters, who are already up-in-arms with the new owners' policy ever since the Americans took over.
"Manchester United today commenced its initial public offering of 16,666,667 Class A Ordinary Shares," a statement issued read.
"Manchester United is offering 8,333,334 Class A Ordinary Shares and the selling shareholder is offering 8,333,333 Class A Ordinary Shares.
"The underwriters have an option to purchase up to an additional 2,500,000 Class A Ordinary Shares from the selling shareholder. The Class A Ordinary Shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and will trade under the symbol 'MANU'."
The Glazers will keep hold of the remaining 8,333,334 Class B shares, which will give them 10 times as many voting rights on the club's board as those who hold Class A shares.