Koeman also likes the look of Liverpool’s Gini Wijnaldum, out of contract at Anfield next summer, and was dreaming of an all-Dutch midfield also comprising of Frenkie de Jong, Van de Beek’s former Ajax team-mate.

But whether the Catalan giants have the cash to rival United remains to be seen and they are currently distracted by the ongoing drama of captain Lionel Messi seeking to quit the Nou Camp.

Such uncertainty in Barcelona, it has been suggested, prompted Solskjaer to make a move for Van de Beek as United also struggle to land Sancho from Dortmund.

The player produced 10 goals and 11 assists in 37 games for Ajax last term after mustreing 17 goals and 13 assists in 57 games the season before, when his club reached the Champions League semi-finals only to be downed by Tottenham in the final four in dramatic style.

He agreed a move to Real Madrid earlier this year only for the COVID-19 crisis to scupper Los Blancos’ plans – and was a key target for the La Liga champions last summer too.