Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed Manchester United could now move for two alternative targets should their priorities not arrive this summer. 

The lowdown: Pursuit of midfielders

So far this summer the Red Devils have been heavily linked with a move for Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong and Brentford's soon-to-be free agent Christian Eriksen.

However, due to the Dane's lengthy decision-making process and an impasse over negotiations for De Jong, neither move has materialised and both are in danger of falling by the wayside.

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Should that be the case, one journalist in the know has suggested that United could then attempt to make moves for two previous targets...

The latest: 'Let’s not rule out...'

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones claimed that United could return for Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans or Wolves stalwart Ruben Neves as alternative options.

He said: “United’s issue is if they don’t land these two, then it looks like whatever else happens is a fallback option. It’s not as good as what they wanted. But let’s not rule out Tielemans, Ruben Neves, these players that they’ve been linked to for a long time.”

The verdict: Smart planning

Although landing the preferred duo would be the ideal scenario, United don't find themselves in a position to forgo signing players this summer in order to strengthen the squad and especially the midfield department.

Having already allowed Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata to leave Old Trafford, additions are essential if Erik ten Hag is going to stand a chance of competing in the upper echelons next season.

Valued at a combined £85.5million (Transfermarkt), signing either Tielemans or Neves - who is represented by the same agency as Cristiano Ronaldo - would be an affordable venture for the Red Devils and they would arrive with proven Premier League quality.