Manchester United were reportedly unprepared to match Borussia Dortmund's proposal for Jude Bellingham last month.
From January onwards, the two clubs emerged as the frontrunners for the then-Birmingham City youngster, who was a regular starter in the Championship during the most recent campaign.
Despite Bellingham spending time at United's training ground, Dortmund eventually won the race for the teenager in a £25m deal.
According to ESPN, United's owners did not want to hand Bellingham in the region of £56,000 per week, which he will allegedly earn at the Westfalenstadion.
The report claims that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been keen to fast-track the 17-year-old into the first-team picture at Old Trafford.
