SAN FRANCISCO • Manchester United have been told to forget about signing Thomas Mueller by Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

United are exploring the possibility of signing Mueller in a deal that could cost as much as £60 million (S$127 million). They have already spent £74 million to acquire Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mueller's former team-mate at Bayern.

But the German team are reluctant to sell the player who has been with them since he was 11.

"There are some players who just don't have any price tag," Rummenigge said. "We would be out of our minds to sell Mueller."

Meanwhile, United manager Louis van Gaal is seeking to get David de Gea's mind focused on the club who pay his wages.

The Spaniard's hopes of a move to Real Madrid are fading. And the goalkeeper has missed the club's first two tour matches in the United States with a mystery injury, for which he was sent to hospital in Seattle for assessment.

It is understood that he complained of a back problem but scans showed nothing untoward.

Van Gaal reacted by instructing the Spain goalkeeper to take part in the warm-up before United's game against the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday.

The Dutchman claimed after United's 3-1 win in California that he "hoped" de Gea would be available for the Barcelona game.

It is believed that the manager told the 24-year-old that he wants him to play against the European champions at the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. He needs the goalie to be in the right frame of mind for the start of the season.

THE TIMES, LONDON

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