Man Utd make £10m bid for Carrick

Exclusive by Jonathan Legard BBC Radio Five Live football correspondent

Man Utd must up their bid to prise Carrick from Spurs

Manchester United have had a £10m bid for midfielder Michael Carrick rejected by Tottenham, BBC Sport can reveal.

Spurs dismissed the bid, insisting United would have to double their offer to land the 24-year-old, who is part of the England squad at the World Cup.

Manchester United faxed their offer to Tottenham on Friday, but it was swiftly turned down.

Carrick's agent, David Giess, declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport late on Friday.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants Carrick as a replacement for Roy Keane who left the club last December.

Carrick, who has two years left on his contract at White Hart Lane, is likely to be on the substitute's bench for England in their World Cup opener against Paraguay on Saturday.

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He was born in the north-east and came through the ranks at West Ham, joining Tottenham in August 2004 for £2.75m.

The offer for Carrick from United may not have come at a welcome time for England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Eriksson is at loggerheads with Ferguson after declaring Wayne Rooney "injury free" and almost ready to return to action with England in Germany.

Rooney, 20, is still recovering from breaking a metatarsal in his right foot on 29 April and United do not want him to be risked too soon.

The England coach will want Carrick to concentrate fully on the World Cup rather than the speculation surrounding which club he will start next season with.

Manchester United have not commented about their bid for Carrick and it is unclear whether they will increase their offer.