John Murtough is failing with his Manchester United transfer priorities this summer

Manchester United's John Murtough and Richard Arnold were pictured together in Barcelona last month. The club's talks to sign Frenkie de Jong had made no progress since a fee had been agreed and the pair travelled to Catalonia to push the deal through.

There have been four weeks since that rendezvous in Barcelona and any deal for De Jong has become increasingly unlikely. Sources indicated Murtough and Arnold were 'inter-railing around Europe' but the club have spent more money on travel expenses than they have on midfielders this summer. Christian Eriksen, who has been the only midfield addition, cost nothing.

United have looked foolish chasing De Jong all summer and it will be humiliating if they do not sign him, yet it is likely that will be the case. United's transfer business in this window has had all of the hallmarks of a club that is poorly run.

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United's interest in Marko Arnautovic was disgraceful and it confirmed supporters' suspicions that the summer window was becoming an embarrassment. Arnautovic, 33, has never been good enough to play for United and that's without mentioning his sketchy past.

Erik ten Hag considered Arnautovic an ideal character for a dressing room still struggling for self-belief after last season. Such is his character, though, Anautovic was handed a one-game ban following a Uefa investigation during Euro 2020 after it was alleged he had used a racist slur while celebrating a goal. United fans didn't want him near their club.

United withdrew their interest in Arnautovic and the backlash from supporters was a contributing factor in the club doing so, while Bologna's valuation was also a stumbling block. United then turned their