Manchester United missed out on a blockbuster transfer target during the summer window despite the club's spending spree, it has been revealed.
Erik ten Hag brought in five new additions before the market slammed shut, addressing several positions in his squad in his bid to challenge for more trophies.
Striker Joshua Zirkzee arrived from Bologna before United pipped Real Madrid to the sensational signing of talented central defender Leny Yoro from Lille.
The club weren't done there with Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui recruited in a double deal from Bayern Munich to add much-needed depth to their backline.
Combative midfielder Manuel Ugarte joined from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day to round off a busy summer, taking their overall splurge to over £200million.
But Ten Hag didn't secure all of his targets, it has now emerged.
Fabrizio Romano has reported United had chased PSG's Xavi Simons and even sounded out his availability prior to him joining up with the Netherlands for Euro 2024 earlier in the summer.
Simons, 21, joined the Ligue 1 giants from Barcelona in 2022 but spent the 2022-23 campaign in his homeland at PSV Eindhoven. He then sealed a permanent move to the Parc des Princes in the summer of 2023 but has struggled for game time.
The talent was quickly sent out on loan to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga and has returned to the same club for a second consecutive season.
Romano has revealed that he did not join United because his preference was to head back to Germany, resulting in the agreement with Leipzig.
罗马诺透露，他没有加入曼联，因为他更愿意回到德国，从而与莱比锡达成协议。
He has been tipped, however, to take on a new adventure in the summer of 2025, potentially reigniting interest from the Old Trafford hierarchy.