Manchester United fans cannot believe which Premier League star the club are weighing up a move for this summer.

Now that the future of Erik ten Hag has been resolved – the one-year extension in the manager’s contract was activated last week – the wheels on a squad overhaul are setting in motion.

The result of a thorough squad audit conducted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, head of United’s new minority owners Ineos, concluded that United need reinforcements in most areas.

According to Mail Sport, a recruitment meeting was held on Monday to assess the current state of transfer negotiations and discuss other potential deals.

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United are reportedly closing in on deals for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee and Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, who are both currently preparing for the Netherland’s Euro 2024 semi-final clash with England.

Club bosses will also decide whether to make another bid for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, after an opening offer of around £35 million was rejected earlier this summer.

According to Mail Sport, a surprise transfer target will also be discussed. United are reportedly weighing up a move for Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell, who missed much of last season with hamstring and knee injuries.

The 27-year-old made just 13 Premier League appearances and ended up missing out on England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Given the injury issues suffered by Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia last season, it’s understandable that United want to sign a new left-back.

Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell has emerged as a surprise target for Man United (Getty)

However, fans just can’t understand why the club view Chilwell as the solution.

“Chilwell? For what??” one stunned fan commented on X. Another United supporter wrote: “This is hilarious. How the mighty have fallen.”

A third said: “How does Chelsea always end up managing to clear their deadwood so easily?”

Fans didn’t miss the opportunity to mock their United counterparts.

“Chilwell to United? I never want this version of the simulation to end,” one fan tweeted, while another joked: “Why have one injury prone English left-back when you can have two!”

An Arsenal fan commented: “Maybe they can buy Chilwell and [Kieran] Tierney and try and combine them into one left-back who can play a whole season.”