Manchester United target Adrien Rabiot is closing in on a move to Olympique Marseille, according to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The 29-year-old has been a free agent since he left Juventus in July, and the Red Devils were reportedly preparing to hold talks with him after trying to sign him before the summer transfer window closed.
However, Rabiot will not be joining Man United, with Marseille now in advanced talks to sign him and get the deal done before the end of the new week.
Man United signed Uruguay international midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain as a replacement for academy graduate Scott McTominay.
The Scotland international joined Napoli on transfer deadline day. Casemiro was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia but remains at the Old Trafford club until at least January.
Signing another midfielder, even for free, does not appear to be a top priority for Man United and it appears they never made any serious attempts for Rabiot.
They returned to winning ways on Saturday, blowing Southampton away 3-0 after heading into the international break on the back of back-to-back league defeats.
However, tougher Premier League games are ahead of them before the next international break, with Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa next on the agenda.
Man United have to prove themselves against those teams for fans to believe they have what it takes to make a lasting impression this season.
They are currently 10th in the league table after two wins and two defeats, and they need to improve significantly if they are to finish in the top four and challenge for major silverware.
