Manchester United Transfer News: Sergio Busquets Latest, Mauro Icardi Rumours

Manchester United look to have missed out on the opportunity to sign Sergio Busquets following reports the midfielder is set to sign a new Barcelona contract, but Mauro Icardi has given the Red Devils some hope in their pursuit of him.

According to Spanish newspaper AS (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express), Busquets has agreed to pen a new four-year deal at the Camp Nou and will become one of Barca's highest earners.

Chapman claims the anchor's new salary will be on par with the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar, which seemingly puts to bed any notion that he'll depart in the foreseeable future.

Spanish writer Sergi Dominguez furthered that notion at the end of January, citing Mundo Deportivo's Miguel Rico in claiming the deal comes complete with a €175 million release clause:

Should that be the case, Manchester United would find it almost impossible to convince the Blaugrana into selling their midfield star, whose skill-set could suit the needs of manager Louis van Gaal perfectly.

Busquets gives the creative elite of Luis Enrique's lineup a more rigid backbone at their core, with Squawka detailing earlier this month just how highly the Spanish international sits in La Liga's tackling charts:

Van Gaal has looked to summer signing Daley Blind as his United equivalent in that holding role, but the Dutch international has suffered time on the sidelines with injury.

Meanwhile, fellow summer arrival Ander Herrera hasn't slipped as seamlessly into Van Gaal's plans as some might have supposed, starting just five Premier League games this season.

Busquets, on the other hand, remains a key component in Catalan country and has started in 21 of his 22 La Liga outings, with only Messi managing more league appearances in 2014-15.

Their pursuit of the 26-year-old appears done and dusted at this point, but Inter's Icardi says he's "honoured" to be linked with the likes of United, while admitting he's happy at the San Siro, per Metro's Simon Osborn:

I’m not interested in rumours, what counts is winning with Inter. But if the ones are real about Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool then I’d be honoured, because they are big clubs, but I’m already in a great team where I can win something important.

I would certainly like to play in the Champions League, it’s what every player wants and it would give me a boost towards wearing the shirt of Argentina.

The South American has been a terrific asset under Roberto Mancini this season, scoring 13 goals in 22 Serie A appearances, second only to Juventus' Carlos Tevez.

Milan sports journalist Tancredi Palmeri says it would take a minimum of €30 million for Inter to consider cashing in on Icardi but adds that he expects the forward to sign an extension with the Nerazzurri:

United's interest in Icardi could rest on whether or not the Red Devils decide to turn Radamel Falcao's loan spell at Old Trafford into a permanent move, with the Colombian having scored four goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

Meanwhile, Inside Spanish Football reports that Villarreal star Luciano Vietto has already been identified as a replacement for Icardi, who is drawing interest from some of Europe's biggest outfits:

The 21-year-old's desire to play in Europe's premier competition is also a need that Inter may not be able to satisfy, while United are on track to make their Champions League return next season.

The team has taken time to adapt under Van Gaal and is still a work in progress, but with Inter currently 10th in Serie A, Icardi's continental hopes may be better fulfilled at the Theatre of Dreams.

Mancini would be eager not to lose the talents of a player who accounts for more than a third of the Nerazzurri's 37 league goals this season, but Icardi's head may turn in England's direction.

The final table standings will undoubtedly play a large part in deciding whether or not Icardi wishes to leave the San Siro this summer, although his current allegiances remain locked with Inter.