Man Utd step up Alex Telles transfer hunt in £23m deal but Porto REFUSE flop Diogo Dalot in player-plus-cash offer

MANCHESTER UNITED have stepped up their bid to sign £23million-rated Alex Telles - with Porto REFUSING to welcome Diogo Dalot in a player-plus-cash offer.

The Red Devils are hoping to boost their full-back ranks with a move for the Brazilian defender before the transfer window closes on October 5.

United had hoped to cut the up-front cost by throwing in Dalot, 21, in a player-plus-cash deal.

But Porto have confirmed they will only accept an offer from Old Trafford officials if their £23m asking price is met in full.

United have already seemingly missed out on top target Jadon Sancho after refusing to meet Borussia Dortmund's £108m valuation.

And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Co are at it again, this time cheekily hoping to trim a few million of Telles' asking price by throwing in deadwood right-back Dalot.

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The claim Porto have outright rejected the bid as they have no interest in Dalot.

The Portuguese full-back is a former player of Porto, having worked his way through the youth ranks and into the first-team before joining United in 2018.

Telles has a release clause of £36.7m in his current contract at Porto.

But the Portuguese giants are thought to be willing to accept over £10m less in a bid to cash-in while they can.

Telles is out of contract at the Primeira Liga club at the end of the current season.

The one-cap Brazil international will therefore be able to negotiate pre-contract terms with European sides from January 1 ahead of a free transfer in July.