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This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to The Telegraph, Manchester United "flatly rejected" an offer of £27.6m plus James Rodriguez from Real Madrid for midfielder Paul Pogba.

What's the word?

Recent reports had claimed that Zinedine Zidane's side were "increasingly confident" of landing Pogba before the end of the transfer window, but it now appears that it may not be smooth sailing at all.

The Telegraph claim that United turned down the cash plus player bid last week and that the "derisory" offer was said to have confirmed the club's suspicions over Madrid's lack of money.

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The report adds that Real's reported valuation of Rodriguez is around £46m, which combined with their cash offer, was still less than half of the £160m United seemingly want for Pogba. Indeed, it is now claimed Real have turned their attentions towards Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek as an alternative midfield signing this summer.

Insulting

So after spending big-money on signing several other stars this summer, including Chelsea's Eden Hazard, it appears Real may have just shot themselves in the foot for a possible chance at luring Pogba to the Bernabeu. Coming in at less than half the total valuation United have set for the France World Cup winner, the Red Devils should quite frankly feel insulted at their Spanish counterparts' low-ball offer.

The Frenchman's rather mixed campaign shouldn't detract from the fact he remains a truly world-class player on his day, and at 26, still has the prime years of his life ahead of him. As the modern day transfer market continues to get crazier, Madrid's reported offer feels totally out of place.

United are seemingly not inclined to sell given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's comments about the midfielder, and with just days left in the transfer window in the UK, the Red Devils are unlikely to be rushed into a sale. If, as The Telegraph claim, the bid is a reflection of Madrid's current finances, then Solskjaer's side will surely be holding onto Pogba come the end of the week. The 'will they or won't they' saga may finally come to an end.

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