Louis van Gaal vetoed a move for Renato Sanches in favour of pursuing other transfer targets in the clearest indication yet that he could stay on as Manchester United manager beyond the summer.

Sanches joined Bayern Munich from Benfica on Tuesday in a deal worth an initial £27.6 million but which could rise to £63.1 million depending on the Portugal midfielder’s success with the German giants.

United had scouted Sanches extensively and held advanced talks with Benfica and the 18-year-old’s agent, Jorge Mendes, but senior sources at Old Trafford told Telegraph Sport on Tuesday afternoon that the club had backed away from a deal in February.