Manchester United chief Ed Woodward refused to cough up for Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic last summer, it has been revealed.

The London Evening Standard says despite being available from Inter Milan for £48million, United money men such as vice chairman Woodward were only willing to stump up £45m for the 29-year-old.

That's Jose Mourinho losing out on a player he had sought for most of the summer transfer window for the sake of £3m.

The Standard claim United top brass wouldn't go that little bit further because of the Croatian's lack of star appeal as well as his age.

United had just stumped up mega money for another 29-year-old who played in almost the same position as Perisic in Alexis Sanchez - and they didn't want to do it again.