Manchester United reportedly had a big-money move for Watford striker Odion Ighalo rejected.
Ighalo has recently been the subject of a £38m bid from Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG, which was turned down by the Hornets.
However, the Sunday Times claims that United plotted a £35m move for the Nigerian international, but had their advances rebuffed by Watford.
It is thought that both clubs had agreed not to go public with details of the negotiations, to avoid unsettling the forward during the season.
Ighalo scored 15 goals for the Hertfordshire club last term.
