Two more clubs are putting Manchester United under pressure in the transfer market

As a concept, the 'big six' in the Premier League just about clung on last season, although Manchester United were much closer to West Ham in seventh than they were to Arsenal in fifth.

United held off the Hammers by two points to secure Europa League football. They were 11 points behind a rebuilding Arsenal, 13 behind a suddenly dangerous Tottenham, 16 adrift of Chelsea and light-years behind Liverpool and Manchester City.

So heading into this summer it was indisputable that United had more work to do than the rest of those clubs. They were the only member of that sextet to change manager but Erik ten Hag hasn't yet been seen to walk on water, so he might need some new players as well.

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Bu,t with the last days of June upon us United are still as at the table counting their chips and the pressure is about to increase once again, on the board and on football director John Murtough.

United have spent the entire summer so far playing a high-stakes game of brinksmanship with Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong. It's a game they're likely to win, at least in terms of signing the 25-year-old, but if his signature isn't secured by the end of this week then the delay starts to become costly, eating into the hard bargain United are trying to drive.

De Jong would have been expected to report to Carrington for pre-season training early next week and if he's not signed by then, the delay impacts his assimilation period, as well as having a knock-on effect on the time other new signings will have to work with Ten Hag in pre-season.

Tomorrow will mark 50 days since United approached Barcelona over De Jong, on the night they won the FA Youth Cup at Old