Man United: Who will the club turn to to solve their midfield problems?

However, once Spurs expressed their interest in Fernandez, West Ham, under new guidance through co-chair Daniel Kretinski, managed to stick to a valuation in excess of £80m.

United were willing to pay £85m – albeit with add-ons – but ultimately felt if they had offered that sum, Spurs would have immediately moved to £90m. They are keen to avoid such situations.

United have agreed to one £35 million deal with Serie A outfit Atalanta for Ederson But his late call-up to the Brazil squad means he won’t receive treatment until Carlo Ancelotti’s side are out of contention. Like all of United’s World Cup players, he will then have a minimum of three weeks off.

That means, unless the position changes, the only midfielder among boss Michael Carrick’s senior group when they return for trials and pre-season training on July 9 will be Mason Mount, who is seen as an attacking player.

On 18 July, the day before the World Cup final, United played their first friendly, against Wrexham in Helsinki.

Of the eight first-team midfielders listed on United’s website, apart from Mount, Carrick’s alternatives will be Toby Collier – who Hull wanted – Dan Gore, who spent last season on loan at Rotherham, who were relegated from League One, and twins Jack and Tyler Fletcher. Everyone else is doing World Cup duties. Tyler Fletcher received a surprise call-up to the Scotland squad after impressing in the build-up, but did not play.

United’s Premier League 2 captain Jacob Devaney impressed in the central midfield role for Scottish Premiership side St Mirren in the second half of last season. Jack Moorhouse, who made 14 loan appearances for Leyton Orient in the first half of the campaign, Jess Fitzgerald, Seko Kone and Jim Thwaites are other central midfielders from United’s academy.

With a match against Norwegian side Rosenberg following on July 24, United’s young players have a chance to impress Carrick.

But should United hit a run of high-profile pre-season matches, starting with Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on August 1, Carrick will hope the midfield situation is addressed.