Manchester United have retained an interest in signing Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, according to ESPN.

The website reports that, despite de Jong turning down an €85m (£75m) switch to Old Trafford over the summer, manager Erik ten Hag is still adamant that the Dutchman can be persuaded to make the move to England.

De Jong has been in and out of Barca’s starting eleven this season and there remains a feeling that the Catalan club would be willing to sell in order to get him off the wage bill.

It is a different situation with Bellingham. Dortmund are not keen to offload the 19-year-old and they have reportedly slapped a €150m (£132m) price tag on the player.

There is also likely to be fierce competition for the England international’s services, with Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea having all been linked with signing the teenager in recent weeks.