Manchester United might have missed out on their ideal midfield signing

It has been a month since Manchester United agreed personal terms with Mason Mount, yet he is still a Chelsea player.

The two clubs remain at an impasse as they calculate the next steps, with at least one of them knowing they will have to compromise if a transfer is going to take place.

United insist they will not go beyond their latest £55million bid for the midfielder and are prepared to walk away from a deal if Chelsea don't show any signs of lowering their demands.

It is still hard to tell just how much they mean that, as impatience begins to grow amongst the fanbase at the thought of another summer of slow business and stamina-sapping sagas.

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United are trying to reinvent themselves in the transfer window and establish themselves as an elite club that operates with ruthless efficiency. The fact they are still being drawn into protracted talks and imposed with a 'United tax' indicates they are far from achieving that.

Erik ten Hag might be a fond admirer of Mount, but if United were really as slick and clinical as they imagined, they might have already moved on and signed an alternative instead. Their pursuit of Mount is quite the opposite of the seemingly effortless negotiations that saw Tottenham secure the signing of James Maddison for less money this week.

Leicester had hoped to receive £60m for Maddison but were forced to accept a £40m fee when it became clear that no club was prepared to pay that. It is perhaps another lesson that United could learn from their own pursuit of Mount.

Ten Hag has been in dialogue with potential targets and insists that 'many quality players' really want to join United after his successful debut season in charge. Mount fits the bill