Manchester United Recoil at £36m Arturo Vidal Asking Price Set by Juventus

Juventus are ready to sell Arturo Vidal but Manchester United have balked at the Italian club's £36m valuation of the Chilean midfielder.

Following the signings of Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera, Chile international Vidal has become United's priority transfer target as Louis van Gaal aims to assemble a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League again next season.

Gazzetta dello Sport suggested earlier this week the Serie A champions are prepared for the midfielder's departure and are willing to negotiate a deal with United. But having entered talks with the Bianconeri, The Times suggest United have been discouraged by the initial asking fee.

United have already spent a reported £30m and £28m bringing Shaw and Herrera to the club just six months on from breaking their transfer record to sign Juan Mata from Chelsea for £37m. However, reports suggest United are not willing to pay a similar fee for Vidal, although their reluctance to pay could be a bargaining tactic from chief executive Ed Woodward in an attempt to drive his price down.

Negotiations with Juventus could also be impacted by the news that Patrice Evra could soon join the Italian champions with an offer currently on the table. BBC Sport suggest the France international has asked to leave United although he has yet to hand in an official transfer request with hope of coming to amicable agreement with the club.

United triggered a one-year contract extension in Evra's contract when it expired in May but wide-ranging reports suggest the 33-year-old would like a fresh start elsewhere after eight success-laden years in Manchester.

Although Luke Shaw is a direct replacement for the veteran Frenchman, United will find themselves without direct cover for the teenage full back having also allowed Alexander Buttner to leave the club for Dinamo Moscow.

The club remain linked with moves for the versatile Daley Blind and Wolfsburg star Ricardo Rodriguez, while another of van Gaal's defensive targets in Thomas Vermaelen could also provide cover on the left hand side of defence.