Manchester United have a ‘competitive’ transfer budget that is able to rival ‘all the other top European clubs’, according to journalist Jacques Talbot.

The Red Devils have endured a relatively frustrating opening month or so to the transfer window, with no end in site for their lengthy pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

What is the latest news involving Man Utd?

New United manager Erik ten Hag has already added left-back Tyrell Malacia to his first-team squad from Feyenoord with attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen also arriving as a free agent.

Versatile centre-back Lisandro Martinez is also set to arrive from Ten Hag’s former side Ajax in a €55 million (£46.7m) deal as the Dutch tactician begins to make his mark in the red half of Manchester.

However, negotiations for De Jong appear to have reached as impasse, with the 25-year-old being included in Barca’s pre-season tour of the USA.

And United appear to be equally as frustrated in their attempts to prize winger Antony away from Ajax. GOAL have reported that the Old Trafford outfit are nearly £20m short of the Eredivisie champions’ asking price at this moment in time.

It’s claimed that Ten Hag’s charges ‘have offered’ €60m (£51m) for the Brazil international but the Amsterdam giants are holding out for €80m (£68m).

What has Talbot said about Antony?

Stumping up £68m for Antony would make him United’s fifth most expensive arrival of all time and would represent a significant outlay for a player who has only plied his trade in Brazil and the Netherlands.

But Talbot has informed GiveMeSport that he has been assured the club have the necessary financial resources to compete with their rivals from across the continent.

In an interview with GMS, he said: “Man United told me they have a transfer budget competitive with all the other top European clubs, which means just limiting themselves to FFP.”

Who else are Man Utd targeting?

While De Jong and Antony are widely believed to be United’s top targets, the club have also been credited with an interest in Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic.

Reliable Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that the 20-time English champions are ‘very interested’ the 25-year-old.

Kalajdzic, who stands at 6 foot 7 inches tall, has scored 24 goals in 57 appearances for Stuttgart, setting up a further nine strikes and only has one year remaining on his contract.