Manchester United have reportedly upped their bid for midfielder Paul Pogba to £92m but are still locked in negotiations with Juventus who are holding out for more.
The Red Devils' transfer fee could break into the nine-figure mark when add-ons are included, smashing the previous transfer record of £85m when Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid.
Juventus are said to be playing hardball, however, and are refusing to bow until they receive their true valuation of the France international in one full payment.
The Guardian reports that United have also been told that the mammoth fee paid to sign Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli, thought to be in the region of £78m, will have no bearing on Pogba's future.
It is claimed that the 23-year-old has already agreed personal terms with the club that he left on a free transfer in 2012, which will see him earn a basic salary of £11m a year on top of added incentives and separate image rights.
United have added three players to their squad since Jose Mourinho took charge, having completed moves for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eric Bailly and Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer.