Manchester United are anxious about avoiding an auction for Wigan Athletic winger Luis Antonio Valencia.
The Daily Mail says United are ready to battle Real Madrid for Valencia — but are reluctant to pay the £16million asking price.
Real made a £21.5m bid last month for the Ecuador international and that offer still stands despite their ongoing interest in Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and United's Cristiano Ronaldo.
United, however, are confident in the knowledge that Valencia, 23, wants to join them and save himself from uprooting to move to Spain.
The one problem is that despite an agreement in principle being made between the clubs in December, United scouts have not been wholly impressed by Valencia's performances in the second half of the season and they don't believe £16m represents value for money.
It may mean new Wigan manager Roberto Martinez will have to strike a bargain to include a makeweight coming to Wigan unless he can persuade United to improve their offer.
Valencia's agent Diego Herrera said: "I cannot confirm the news that Manchester and Madrid have made bids because I haven't spoken with Wigan yet. But I will be in touch with them at the start of the week, hopefully on Monday. Of course this is great news because it is the right moment for Antonio Valencia to join a bigger club and start a new challenge with a great team.
"He has proved himself in The Premier League with Wigan and is definitely good enough to make the step to something bigger. They are both great football clubs and making a decision is tough. At the end of the day, you have to consider both offers because they are massive clubs."