Manchester United fail in first push to buy Atlético Madrid’s Kieran Trippier

Manchester United have had an opening proposal to buy Kieran Trippier turned down by Atlético Madrid. La Liga’s champions want about €40m (£34.4m) to sell the England full-back.

Trippier has spent two seasons at Atlético since joining from Tottenham for £20m plus add-ons. He played every minute of every league game for which he was available to help the team to the title and was described in recent days by Gareth Southgate as a “defensive animal”.

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The 30-year-old, usually a right-back, was used by England’s manager as a left-back in the opening Euro 2020 match against Croatia last Sunday. He was at Manchester City’s academy but never played a senior game for the club.

Trippier is one of several United targets. They have had a £67m offer for another England player, Jadon Sancho, rejected by Borussia Dortmund, who have set the forward’s price at £77.5m.

The goalkeeper Tom Heaton has had a medical and is to sign a contract at United until 2023. His deal at Aston Villa expires at the end of this month.