Manchester United and Chelsea both offered £70million for Barcelona star Fermin Lopez this summer, according to reports in Spain.
United have signed Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to play in the two No 10s in Ruben Amorim's system.
Chelsea meanwhile want Alejandro Garnacho from United and RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons.
But according to Catalan-based publication Sport, the two Premier League giants tabled huge bids for Fermin, who can play as an attacking midfielder or off the left-hand side, in July.
Sport reports the offers caused tension in the Barcelona boardroom as some wanted to sell and others preferred keeping the highly-rated 22-year-old.