Marcos Alonso deal to Man Utd falls through

Manchester United have reluctantly pulled out of a deal to sign Barcelona man Marcos Alonso on loan, as the former Chelsea defender opts to stay at the Nou Camp for another season. United manager Erik Ten Hag wants to sign Marcos Alonso before the end of the transfer window to quell his defensive concerns as we head into game day 4 of the Premier League this weekend.

Manchester United's defensive frailties were all on show this past weekend, as Nottingham Forest were 2-0 up at Old Trafford after just five minutes. A miraculous turnaround, spearheaded by captain Bruno Fernandes saw the game finish 3-2 to United, but not without criticism of the club's defensive performance.

It is understood that Marcos Alonso wanted to move back to the Premier League, but changed his mind as he was not willing to go on loan at this stage of his career. The 32-year-old only moved to Barcelona in 2022, and is seeking more security for his long-term future, and was hoping for a permanent transfer to Old Trafford. It is understood United were not willing to match the 20 million euro price tag.