The $11 million offer for Socceroos star Mooy
EXCLUSIVE: Australia midfielder Aaron Mooy attracted an $11 million approach from an unnamed club amid a wave of interest for the Socceroos star during the January transfer window.
The club in question tabled the bid for the Huddersfield Town midfielder - which included lucrative add-ons - on the back of his stunning season in England's second tier.
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The offer, which came from a fellow Championship high-flier, was immediately knocked back by Mooy's parent club Manchester City, which, far from seeking to sell the 26 year-old, considered recalling him in the New Year.
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beIN can reveal City manager Pep Guadiola deliberated over curtailing Mooy's season-long loan with the Terriers and bringing him back to the Etihad Stadium as cover for Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho.
With Mooy pivotal to play-off placed Huddersfield's hopes of promotion to the Premier League, it was decided to let him stay, much to the relief of Terriers manager David Wagner.
In addition to the Mooy bid, there have been expressions of interest from a number of other prominent Championship clubs and from the Premier League, with Manchester City poised to see his value climb to as high as $20 million or more should he continue to excel for the side he joined immediately after departing Melbourne City last season.
Mooy's Sydney-based agent, Paddy Dominguez, declined to comment on the whirlwind of interest swirling around Mooy, who is considered by most observers - including a majority of Huddersfield fans - too accomplished for the Championship.
"Aaron is very happy at Huddersfield, he's following the plan and is solely focused on seeing out the season with them," Dominguez said. "Hopefully that will include him being a part of a team which wins promotion."
Should Huddersfield go up, it's understood Wagner will make a formal bid to buy him from City, which alternatively may wish to bring him on its pre-season tour to allow Guardiola to assess the qualities of a player whose game, though less varnished and refined, hails from the same playbook as technicians like Xavi and Iniesta.
It's understood that Mooy, who returned from injury to help Huddersfield crush Rochdale 4-0 in the FA Cup at the weekend, is being monitored weekly by one of City's senior scouts, with Guardiola well apprised of his progress.
It's believed also that Wagner - Jurgen Klopp's former assistant at Borussia Dortmund - has sung the Australian's praises to the Liverpool manager - a long-time friend.
It's thought, however, that a gentleman's is likely to be in place forestalling an attempt by Liverpool to poach him, should Huddersfield graduate to the top flight.
City will have the final say - and may even opt to blood him in its first team next season.