Manchester United Transfer News: Bayern Munich Rule out Thiago Alcantara Exit

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has dismissed speculation linking Manchester United target Thiago Alcantara with an exit and said the club have "never once" thought about selling their star. 

There have been suggestions this summer that Thiago would be permitted to leave the Allianz Arena, but Rummenigge told Abendzeitung (h/t Goal) that won't be the case: "Thiago is an important player for us, and we have never once articulated the thought that he should leave the club. There has never been anything to the story whatsoever."

The report also mentioned Manchester City have been admirers of the Spain international, though the Citizens ruled themselves out of the race earlier this summer.

New Bayern manager Niko Kovac has also recently opened up on his eagerness to work alongside Thiago in Bavaria and further dashed United's hopes of pulling off a move for Thiago, per Goal's Ronan Murphy:

Die Roten have moved quickly to dash the hopes of potential suitors after ESPN FC's Mark Lovell wrote that both United and Chelsea had registered an interest in recruiting the playmaker.

That came amid the suggestion that Bayern's midfield is crowded, with Leon Goretzka arriving this summer to complement a side that already houses Javi Martinez, Arturo Vidal, Corentin Tolisso, James Rodriguez, Renato Sanches and more.

Lovell also referenced a report from Bild, which said Bayern would seek a €70 million (£62 million) sum for Thiago, which would be a hefty return considering they signed him in 2013 for only €25 million.

Earlier in July, Sport cited Bild following a report that Thiago had indeed "asked to leave" the Allianz Arena and return to the Camp Nou, a move writer Simon Harrison has said would be of huge benefit to the Blaugrana:

United have already signed midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk this summer as Jose Mourinho continues to reshape his midfield, with the Brazilian set to partner Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic in a new-look engine room.

Injuries hampered Thiago's 2017-18 campaign as he missed 18 games through various ailments, per Transfermarkt, although his figures were still competitive with some of Europe's other top metronomes, per Football Radars:

Rumours that Bayern would be so willing to let Thiago leave struck as odd considering his quality.

The 31-times capped Spain international would stand out more at Old Trafford, but Rummenigge has moved to nip speculation in the bud by insisting Bayern's star is not up for sale.