Why Manchester United hold all the cards in Frenkie de Jong transfer talks

Manchester United's pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong might be the ultimate case of transfer market brinksmanship, and the window has only been open in the Premier League for four days.

On paper, it looks like a simple deal to do. United want to sign De Jong and Barcelona want to sell De Jong, but in the world of football transfers, it's rarely as simple as that.

United have made the 25-year-old their top target for Erik ten Hag's midfield rebuild, but sources have insisted they won't solve Barcelona's financial problems for them and are keeping lines of communication open over other targets.

READ MORE: United willing to walk away from De Jong transfer as alternatives considered

That is the crux of the issue as talks over a potential deal continue. United know Barcelona are in desperate need of the money a transfer would bring and at the moment they're the only suitors for an asset Barca are willing to sell. For their part, those in power at the Nou Camp know how much United - and Ten Hag - want De Jong.

With the window only just open that leaves us with this game of brinksmanship, or as Dr Rob Wilson, a football finance expert from Sheffield Hallam University, puts it, "pistols at dawn" between United and Barcelona.

Barcelona are under tight salary controls from La Liga as a result of their significant debts and that has led to issues in signing players and some creative ways of getting around that burden on wages.

This summer they are set to sign Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie on free transfers, but with just two weeks until their deals at Chelsea and AC Milan expire, Barcelona still cannot register them, despite the departure of Philippe Coutinho to Aston Villa.

"It was really grave last