Following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski, the La Liga side hijacked Chelsea’s move for Kounde, the second time that they have prised a player away from Stamford Bridge this summer. They previously submitted a bid in the eleventh hour for Leeds winger Raphinha, who was vocal about his desire to move to the Spanish side previously.
United are pushing for their De Jong conundrum to be solved before the start of the season, with his absence plus issues surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo overshadowing what is supposed to be a fresh start for the club under Ten Hag.
The arrivals of Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez will have shaken up the United dressing rooms, though the trio aren’t the sign of intent from the club that many supporters were hoping for after last season’s embarrassment under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
