Manchester United have failed in their pursuit to sign Leicester City‘s Louis Page, after reigniting their interest late on deadline day.

The Red Devils launched a move to try and get a deal for the 18-year-old over the line before the close of the window, who has been a long-term target for the Premier League side this window.

Deal Off Following Team News

Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider confirmed that United were poised to send Leicester an offer for the midfielder, with a potential fee set to exceed the £12.5 million Manchester City paid to recruit Jeremy Monga from the East Midlands earlier this window.

However, their fortunes in striking a deal changed when it was confirmed that Page was included in Russell Martin’s squad for the Foxes’ League One game against Plymouth Argyle.

Now, in a report from talkSPORT’s Alex Crook and Ben Jacobs, a deal for Page is now effectively dead, with United unable to agree a fee with Leicester.

Page has made 26 senior appearances at the King Power since his first-team breakthrough last season, and has had his fair share of suitors across the summer, with Arsenal and Aston Villa also linked with a move.

City could still lose one of their current players before the 11pm deadline, with Sky Sports reporting that Charlton Athletic are keen on a loan deal for Oliver Skipp, which will only be sanctioned if a replacement can be found in time.

Where Next For Page?

With time essentially up for any progress to be made in a deal for Louis Page, it has secured his short-term future at Leicester City, where he is poised to play a key role in Russell Martin’s plans from now on.

Rotation with Oliver Skipp or his potential replacement is likely, and while that means he won’t be a regular starter, he is already picking up a lot of responsibility as part of the Foxes’ aim to have their youth stars, like Sammy Braybrooke and Will Alves, lead the club into the future.

While Manchester United’s deal has been scuppered this time, it would not be a surprise for them to mount a new effort to sign him in the January window; however, that will come with some added competition for his signature.

Arsenal have been known to have maintained their interest in the midfielder, and with the Gunners keen on investing in future talents, as they have done for Andria Bartishvili in this window, a bidding war could be on the horizon.