According to a report in the Sunday Mirror, United had previously bid unsuccessfully three times for the England midfielder. After Tottenham had a separate cash offer for O'Shea turned down, they entered into negotiations with Manchester United over a possible deal to exchange O'Shea plus £10 million for Carrick.
Sir Alex Ferguson always wanted to hold onto O'Shea in the same way that Martin Jol doesn't want to lose Carrick. But after a £16 million offer for Carrick had been turned down, United accepted that O'Shea could be the key to the deal and reluctantly agreed. Spurs then rejected this fresh approach frustrating the player's attractors.
‘United will now debate whether or not to return with an improved offer for Carrick,' writes Paul Smith in the same report.