Manchester United could reportedly face a bidding war for Mauro Icardi as Real Madrid are prepared to offer £86m for the Inter Milan striker.

Inter are ready to sell the Argentina international following a drawn-out contract standoff that has been played out in public and is no closer to being resolved.

The Italian giants feared losing Icardi for a cut-price fee for that very reason, but Marca reports that a bidding war could yet break out.

Real are willing to go big with their offer for the 26-year-old, it is claimed, as they want to bolster their attack for the start of next season and see Icardi as a good alternative to Karim Benzema.

United are also eyeing up Icardi and may match Los Blancos' bid, while Juventus are in the running to sign him after confirming their interest last month.

The former Sampdoria striker has scored 122 goals in 210 appearances for Inter, but he was recently stripped of the captaincy and has not featured in the last month.