Manchester United plotting shock £55.3m raid for Athletic Bilbao’s highly-rated duo

Manchester United are reportedly preparing a staggering £55.3m bid for midfielders Mikel San Jose and Oscar de Marcos, according to Don Balon (via the Metro).

The 13-time Premier League champions, who currently sit sixth in the English top-flight standings, despite defeating arch rivals Manchester City 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, have been linked with a double raid on Spanish side Athletic Bilbao for the highly-rated duo.

Central defensive midfielder San Jose; 26, who has five international caps for Spain, has scored three goals and provided four assists in 41 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga outfit so far this season.

Meanwhile De Marcos; also 26, who has represented Spain at Under-23 level, has found the back of the net twice and provided five assists in 46 appearances in all competitions this term for the Spanish side.

The latter has been mostly deployed as a right-back for Bilbao this term, but he can also operate on the right side of midfield.