Manchester United transfer rumour: Red Devils make formal €85m bid for Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller

Manchester United have placed an official bid for Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller, according to German publication Sport Bild.

Louis van Gaal has Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and youngster James Wilson as three recognised first choice strikers in the squad. So far in the first three games of the new season, the strikers have failed to get their name of the scoresheet.

The Premier League giants have long been interested in Muller as the Dutchman looks to bolster United's attack. Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has ruled out any possible sale of the German international in the ongoing transfer window.

However, United are keen on securing the services of the forward, who scored 21 goals and managed 14 assists in all competitions in 2014/15 season. Muller's contract at the Allianz Arena ends in 2019.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils have already signed Bastian Schweinsteiger from the Bundesliga winners earlier in the summer. Van Gaal wants to raid his former club and bring Muller to Old Trafford. Moreover, Sport Bild has claimed that United chief executive Ed Woodward placed a €85m (£60m, $94.6m) bid for the 25-year-old's signature last week.

United paid a British record fee of £59.7m ($93.6m) in signing Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid. The Argentine international left Old Trafford and completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain after one year in England.

Should Van Gaal manage to seal the deal for Muller, the forward's signing will beat Di Maria's transfer fee.

Further, the Daily Mail reported that Arsenal enquired about the possibility of signing the Bayern star. However, the Gunners' bid in signing both Muller and his club teammate Robert Lewandowski has been rejected by the German outfit.

Bayern are confident that Muller will be at the Allianz Arena beyond the summer transfer window. Their sporting director Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer ruled out any move for the attacker.

"It is not Thomas who is causing the fuss, it is his performances. And we can't do anything about that. [Chief executive] Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is right, he is a player that we cannot put a price on," Sammer said.