Ramos is endeavouring to have his position at Real Madrid made clear by club officials and feels he has been the victim of a smear campaign

Manchester United have made a second offer of about £35.4 million for Sergio Ramos as they step up their efforts to sign the unsettled Real Madrid centre half.

United are also prepared to play hardball with Real over David De Gea, intimating that they will consider selling only if they receive an offer in excess of the £32.6 million world-record fee for a goalkeeper that Juventus paid Parma to sign Gianluigi Buffon in 2001.

An opening bid of £32 million for Ramos was rejected out of hand by Real on Tuesday, but United have moved quickly to lodge a second offer, even though it still falls well short of the Spanish club’s £46 million valuation.

United believe such a price tag is excessive for a