Shakhtar Donetsk are playing hard ball over the future of Manchester United target Fred.

United are thought to be in talks with the Ukrainian outfit over the midfielder's signature.

The Red Devils want the Brazilian signed before the World Cup begins, as they attempt to wrap up their transfer business quickly.

But Goal.com is reporting that Shakhtar will ask for more than €50 million if they are to sell Fred. The player has a €60 million release clause.

The club's president Rinat Akhmetov recently spoke about Fred's future at Shakhtar.

"You know that we had negotiations with Manchester City this winter, and there was an official offer - a very big figure," Akhmetov told Futbol 1.

"They offered us around €50m for Fred. And we had enough strength to reject it, because we were playing in the Champions League, we were finishing the Ukrainian League campaign.

"We won the championship and the cup - in principle, our decision was correct. And I am convinced that we will receive and are receiving no less interesting proposals than that from Manchester City."