Manchester United Plan £25.5m Bid For Long-Term Target Ander Herrera

Manchester United have once again set their sights on La Liga star Ander Herrera and reports in Spain claim they are ready to launch a £25.5m bid to finally sign the Athletic Bilbao midfielder.

United were close to signing Herrera last summer to the point where a number of reports suggested a deal was completed on transfer deadline day.

However, Herrera's agent Arturo Canales then revealed to IBTimes UK the transfer collapsed because the two clubs could not agree a fee – with United refusing to meet his €36m release clause.

David Moyes made a fresh approach to secure his services during the January transfer window, only for the player himself to snub the proposal.

"I'm not going to talk about Manchester United anymore, it doesn't help anyone. I've already explained the situation. I feel good here, like I've always said and I'm going to continue with Athletic," Herrera said in December.

But according to Spanish newspaper AS new manager Louis van Gaal is ready to renew United's efforts in signing Herrera and they are set to launch a €32m (£25.5m) bid to complete the deal.

However, IBTimes UK understand that Athletic are still not open to any offers and should United want Herrera they will have to meet his €36m release clause, which will rise to €40m next month.

Herrera endured a shaky start to the 2013/14 campaign due to the constant rumours regarding his future but once he managed to shift his focus back to football he once again became a key player to manager Ernesto Valverde, scoring five La Liga goals and grabbing six assists.

Indeed, many Spanish pundits suggested he deserved a place in the Vicente Del Bosque's 23-man-squad which made the trip to Brazil for the World Cup.