Lazio said they have not received an improved offer from Manchester United for Brazilian forward Felipe Anderson, who said on Saturday he could quit the club before the end of January.
Reports have recently suggested United are still determined to lure Anderson to Old Trafford, and speculation intensified midweek when the 22-year-old striker was substituted at half time against Carpi after one of his worst performances to date.
However, United had an offer of €50 million (Dh200.5m) rejected by Lazio in August, according to the Italian club’s director of sport, Igli Tare, and have yet to return with an improved proposal.
“We received their offer on August 27, but we rejected it,” Tare said before Saturday’s 3-1 win at Fiorentina.
“Up until now we haven’t received anything from Manchester United.”
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Anderson came off the bench to strike late in the shock victory at title-chasing Fiorentina before telling Sky Sport he is unsure if he will remain at the Stadio Olimpico beyond the January transfer window.
“I don’t know, I’m focused on my job and on doing well here because it’s not the best of times for me right now,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen.”
Anderson is said to be hanging on to make sure he receives the bonus payment that has been promised to him as part of his buyout clause at Lazio.
But Tare suggested Lazio are happy to keep him and cash in at the end of the season, although that could prove risky given Anderson’s recent spell of mediocrity.
“For now, we haven’t changed our minds on Anderson. If he explodes, his price will go up by a lot more,” Tare said.
Anderson was instrumental last season as Lazio turned their campaign around to finish third in Serie A behind champions Juventus and Roma.
But Anderson was slammed by Lazio manager Stefano Pioli for his lack of effort in midweek against Carpi and was dropped to the bench against Fiorentina.
“Against Carpi, it was difficult. We just couldn’t play our usual game,” Anderson said.
He replaced Keita Balde, who scored Lazio’s opener on the stroke of half time, for the final few minutes in Florence, but it was enough for the Brazilian to beat goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu with a first-time shot from Antonio Candreva’s delivery.
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