Manchester United are missing an opportunity to boost…

Manchester United are missing an opportunity to boost their transfer budget

While Manchester United focus on a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong, it feels like the rest of their summer transfer business is on pause.

De Jong is Erik ten Hag's top target this summer and there's no doubt the 25-year-old would be a pivotal signing for the way United's new manager wants his team to play. Striking a deal with Barcelona is proving difficult, however, and the high-stakes game of brinksmanship continues.

United think the Catalan giants need the cash and they won't overpay, but Barca are confident their financial fix can come through other means before June 30 and the end of their financial year. The two sides remain some way apart on their valuation and, although the deal continues to make slow progress, United are unlikely to look elsewhere just yet.

Strengthening the midfield is Ten Hag's priority and De Jong is highly likely to be the first deal done this summer, so the longer it drags on the greater the impact it will have on the rest of the window.

Only once the De Jong deal is done, will United know what kind of effect it's had on their budget. They insist that kitty is a "sizeable" one this summer, but it's based on spending within their means and those means are reduced by the absence of Champions League football; it's far from limitless.

It will be boosted by player sales but that is another issue for United at the moment. There are maybe up to half-a-dozen players who could be sold this summer but so far nobody has left. The transfer window has only been open for more than a week and it's too early to panic, but it is beginning to feel like progress is slow at the moment.

Of those potential departures, three of them are at centre-back. Eric Bailly wants to leave after making just seven appearances last season and he ended the campaign behind Phil Jones, who is also expected to depart. Axel Tuanzebe could follow, with the 24-year-old needing regular football on the back of two disappointing loan spells last season.

Frenkie de Jong . (Perry vd Leuvert/NESImages/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

United are interested in signing a defender this summer, but midfield and attack are the priorities and a deal for a centre-back is likely to come later in the window, once the picture is clearer over departures.

At the moment United have five senior central defenders on their books, so adding a sixth is unnecessary and would weaken negotiations when it comes to sales. They probably need to move on at least a couple of Bailly, Jones and Tuanzebe before entering the market.

The same is true at right-back, where Aaron Wan-Bissaka's future is up in the air. United are open to letting him leave this summer, but if they do then a replacement will be required. As things stand Diogo Dalot will be Ten Hag's first-choice right-back, but a sale for Wan-Bissaka and funds for a new signing could potentially change that.

Anthony Martial is another player who could be sold this summer as he goes in search of first-team football. Martial's loan at Sevilla was a disappointing one and his value will have inevitably fallen.

If Ten Hag focuses resources on strengthening the right-wing of his attack by firming up interest in Antony, then Martial might get a chance in pre-season to show he can deputise for Cristiano Ronaldo in a central striking position, although Marcus Rashford can also fulfil that role.

Martial has had a disappointing couple of years for United, but he remains highly rated in some circles and a sale could swell United's budget in a vital summer.

At the moment the focus at Old Trafford is on a deal for De Jong, but there's plenty more work that needs to be done, on incomings and exits.

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