Manchester United will still plan to sign a midfielder this summer, but their struggles to agree a deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Manuel Ugarte could force a rethink. The Red Devils' failure to offload Casemiro, Scott McTominay or Christian Eriksen has hampered their potential in the transfer market.
PSG are reportedly unwilling to sell Ugarte for a lower fee than the £51million they paid Sporting Lisbon for his signature last summer.
If their successful capture of Benfica's Joao Neves doesn't soften their stance, United will likely move onto alternative targets.
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According to HITC, at least nine midfielders feature on INEOS' shortlist as they search for Kobbie Mainoo's perfect partner.
Among them is Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat, who has not been ruled out as an option after spending last season on loan at Old Trafford.
United staff are reportedly huge admirers of Wolves' Joao Gomes and Nottingham Forest's Danilo after their impressive start to Premier League life.
Meanwhile, Sporting's Morten Hjulmand has caught the eye, and United are claimed to have invested plenty of time in scouting him over the past year.
AS Monaco's Youssouf Fofana and Borussia Monchengladbach's Manu Kone are also said to have been discussed, with both Frenchmen available for under £30m.
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Ederson, of Atalanta, has featured in talks, too, but any deal is considered difficult due to Teun Koopmeiners' impending switch to Juventus.
Burnley star Sander Berge and Palmeiras' Richard Rios have reportedly been offered to United by intermediaries looking to serve their need for midfield reinforcements.
While the report adds that United sporting director Dan Ashworth is working hard on potential alternatives, talks with PSG over Ugarte remain open.
He is thought to remain the M16 giants' first-choice target, and there is a belief that PSG's demands are reasonable after committing a big fee to sign the 23-year-old a year ago.
But United accept that they likely need to sanction further sales before earning the freedom to add to their two summer signings.
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Erik ten Hag strengthened his squad in July by recruiting Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee and Lille centre-back Leny Yoro for a combined £88.5m.
However, the duo represented replacements for Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial, who left as free agents on the expiry of their contracts.
It has prompted concerns that United's squad is even thinner than last season, a campaign ravaged by relentless injuries.
While INEOS will be actively attempting to bolster Ten Hag's ranks further, pressures to comply with financial regulations are as high as ever.
