Sao Paulo: United Need to Offer "a Little More" to Sign Lucas Moura

In an interview with local publication TMV, Sao Paulo director Marco Aurelio Cunha has declared that Manchester United need to "produce a little more" if they are to sign the Brazilian club's highly rated teenager Lucas Moura. (h/t ESPNSoccernet).

Having placed a bid reported to be in the region of £30 million rejected earlier this week, United's interest in the attacking midfielder has seemingly cooled.

Cunha went on to clarify why Sao Paulo had turned down such a sizeable bid.

"For us, only Neymar is worth more. After him is Lucas, and we would not want to sell for less than this sort of value.

"We do not need the money. The Brazilian economy is good, television pays us and we cannot complain. For us, it is still better to have a good player than lots of money in the bank," he said.

However, It could be interpreted that by going public, Cunha's comments are an attempt to entice United manager Sir Alex Ferguson into increasing his bid, openly acknowledging that they are open to a possible transfer.

Reports are emerging today that United may have already switched their attention to other options, with the Red Devils linked to Real Madrid midfielder, Nuri Sahin (via Goal.com).

The story quotes Sahin's price as being in the region of £20 million, far less than any move for Lucas would cost the club.

Also suggested is that Sir Alex would be willing to sanction a season-long loan move for the Turkish international, if a permanent deal couldn't be negotiated.

However, issues would be raised by the transfer due to Sahin's injury problems this past season.

Either way, fans can expect rumours linking Manchester United with more of Europe and South America's top talents to continue to emerge in the coming weeks, at least until a concrete deal is completed.