Manchester United failed with a late deadline-day bid to sign Leicester City's teenage midfielder Louis Page after the Foxes' owner personally blocked the transfer. The 18-year-old, who made his senior debut for Leicester in August 2025, was the subject of a substantial offer from United in the final hours of the window, but Leicester owner Aiyawatt 'Khun Top' Srivaddhanaprabha intervened to reject the proposal despite rival interest from Arsenal and the player's reported preference for Old Trafford.
Srivaddhanaprabha blocks late Old Trafford move
According to reports from BBC Sport and The Mirror, Manchester United pushed hard to secure Page on deadline day. Arsenal also held a concrete interest in the midfielder, but reporting in The Athletic indicated that Page preferred a move to join Michael Carrick's side. Speaking to reporters after the transfer window closed, Leicester manager Russell Martin confirmed that the club's hierarchy rejected a sizeable proposal. Martin revealed that he sat down with Srivaddhanaprabha and sporting director Jon Rudkin, where the owner firmly declared the player was not for sale, choosing to retain the teenager rather than cash in on a major valuation.
How Page fits Carrick's tactical profile
Under Michael Carrick, Manchester United have prioritized recruiting technical, press-resistant profiles in central midfield. The targeted move for Page shows an appetite to blood younger domestic profiles alongside established first-team options. Having made his first-team debut just over a year ago, Page has quickly earned a reputation for his composure in possession under pressure. By resisting an offer understood to be in the region of £15 million, Leicester's ownership has sent a clear message regarding their squad retention policy, opting to prioritize the player's developmental ceiling over immediate financial profit. United are expected to keep monitoring the teenager ahead of future transfer windows.
