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.
