The Dutchman was priority no.1 at Old Trafford, but despite agreeing a fee with Barcelona, the higher-ups at Old Trafford accept that this is a disadvantageous battle.

As the days pass by, Manchester United's hopes of signing Frenkie de Jong diminish.

It is no secret that the English giants are in need of midfield reinforcement. One look at their 2022/23 Premier League opening day defeat at home to Brighton proves that. However, having identified the aforementioned Dutchman as their ideal target, the Red Devils have struggled to convince the former Ajax starlet to pack up his bags for Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag, his former coach, is currently at the Theatre of Dreams but the player's preference is to remain at the Camp Nou. Due to their financial issues, the Blaugrana are trying to push De Jong out the door in order to cash in on one of their most highly-rated assets, hence the agreement in place with Manchester United, but even this might not be enough.

The reliable Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports has offered an interesting update on this situation, writing on Twitter that with Chelsea lurking in the background, those at Old Trafford fear their odds are slim. According to Jacobs, the consensus at the club is they will lose the Frenkie chase should the Blues officially throw their hat in the ring.

This has not yet happened because the player remains adamant on staying in Catalonia and fighting for his spot under Xavi. Both Premier League giants are willing to take on the deferred wages Barcelona owe the midfielder, meaning it will simply come down to De Jong's preference.

The Red Devils are seen as "unstable" and their lack of UEFA Champions League football puts them at a disadvantage. As a result, news that Ten Hag's side are pursuing a move for Adrien Rabiot makes sense – whether he would be a quality signing is another issue.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United have already agreed a €17M fee with Juventus and are working on personal terms with the player after having conversations with the manager himself. The 20-time English champions take on Brentford next in the Premier League but it remains to be seen whether the Frenchman will complete this move in time for that fixture.