Manchester United 'line up alternatives to Frenkie de Jong

Manchester United have alternatives to Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong but the two primary options are not available this summer, it has been reported. 

The club, led by De Jong's former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag, have been pursuing the midfielder all summer with the chase at various intervals seeming both on the verge of completion and futile. 

According to The Athletic, the club's preferred alternatives to De Jong are Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, of West Ham and Borussia Dortmund respectively, but neither would be available this summer. 

Rice's West Ham contract expires in 2024 with the club possessing the option to extend it by a further year to 2025 while Bellingham's contract also runs to 2025. 

Both players are said to be the subject of significant interest from Europe's elite, with Chelsea having identified Rice as one of their primary targets to freshen an ageing midfield while Bellingham has in the past been linked with Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Despite having alternatives, De Jong is still said to remain at the top of United's wishlist as the clock ticks down on summer.

The report states that United had a £71m deal wrapped up with the Spanish club on July 14 but then the deal stalled. 

Video: De Jong quizzed on Man Utd transfer links (Mirror)

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