Gravesen claims United bid

Manchester United are reported to have stepped up their interest in Thomas Gravesen.

Manchester United are reported to have stepped up their interest in Thomas Gravesen by lodging a bid with Real Madrid.

Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to bolster his midfield having added Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic to his defence over the last ten days.

A replacement for Roy Keane appears high on the agenda and United have been linked with both Gravesen and Olivier Dacourt, but a move for the former is reported to have already happened.

"The ball is in Madrid's court, they are the ones who have to take the decision," Gravesen told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

"They have to decide once and for all if they want me."

Reports suggest United have bid some ‚é¼3.8 million (£2.6 million) for the former Everton star, although Real want ‚é¼5 million (£3.4 million) - despite the fact they only paid Everton ‚é¼3.5 million (£2 million) for him 12 months ago.

With less than £1 million separating the bid and asking price, it would seem that a deal may not be too far away - should United's interest be confirmed.

Real coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro has admitted that any unhappy players can leave the club.

"Anyone who is unsettled here should head for the door and go," Lopez Caro told a Madrid news conference.

"If they are not prepared to help the team they shouldn't try and fool themselves or the club."

However, Lopez Caro did admit that he had not noticed that Gravesen was unsettled.

"I haven't noticed anything amiss with the player, if I had I would have spoken to him about it," he admitted. 

"I can only praise Gravesen as an excellent professional and an excellent person. I am surprised by the things they write about him."