Manchester United transfer news LIVE: Gareth Bale, Amad Traore, and Jadon Sancho latest plus Premier League updates

An optimistic United fan has started a GoFundMe page in an attempt to raise money for the long awaited signing of Jadon Sancho.

The Borussia Dortmund and England youngster has proved frustratingly elusive this summer, with the Bundesliga club holding out for a fee of £108m.

If United can’t afford that, perhaps an army of supporters on the internet can. Fan Matthew Kelley has so far raised £75.

Every little helps, as they say.

United held talks to sign winger Ferran Torres this summer before his move to rivals Manchester City, according to a report in newspaper AS.

The Spaniard was viewed as a more affordable alternative to Jadon Sancho.

United reportedly opened talks with Valencia over a potential deal for Torres, but the 20-year-old instead opted to join Pep Guardiola’s City.

United’s reported interest in Gareth Bale is is nothing more than a ‘smokescreen’ to increase pressure on Borussia Dortmund over Jadon Sancho, claim Norwegian outlet Dagbladet.

The intention is supposedly to give the illusion that they are happy to move on and search for alternative options.

In doing so, United hope Dortmund will lower their £108m asking price for Sancho.

But the German club have repeatedly insisted that they have no intention of selling the 20-year-old.

Bale, meanwhile, is now expected to return to Spurs, despite talk of a potential loan move to Old Trafford.

Intermediaries are attempting to push a possible swap deal involving United’s Chris Smalling and Inter winger Ivan Perisic, according to Italian outlet FcInterNews.

The defender was originally expected to join Roma after a loan spell with the Serie A club, but negotiations have been called off.

Instead, Smalling could move to Inter, whose manager Antonio Conte is reportedly a fan of the centre-back.

United, meanwhile, have identified Perisic as a potential alternative to Jadon Sancho, so intermediaries are working on a deal that would suit both parties.

Rio Ferdinand has claimed Jack Grealish would have left Aston Villa had United made an approach.

The midfielder was linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer, but on Tuesday signed a new contract with his boyhood club.

And Ferdinand clearly wasn’t convinced that it was solely down to his loyalty to Villa.

United are in a strong position to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, says former player Luke Chadwick.

The Frenchman has alerted Europe’s biggest clubs by informing PSG chiefs of his intention to leave.

United, Liverpool and Real Madrid are considered the front runners to move for Mbappe, though any deal would inevitably be hugely expensive.

And Chadwick has suggested United’s Champions League qualification could give them an edge.

“I think it was essential that Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] got the club into the Champions League,” he told CaughtOffside.

“Every player knows the history of Manchester United and what the club wants to achieve.

“They’ve had seven poor years now, but these players can be a part of bringing the glory years back.

“I think Manchester United can still appeal to the world’s best players like Kylian Mbappe.”

Paul Merson has suggested Manchester United should be amongst the clubs interested in Harry Kane.

The Tottenham striker remains one of Europe’s most coveted players, but is yet to waver in his loyalty to Spurs.

Former Arsenal winger Merson, though, has urged clubs to go all out and sign the England captain.

“I’m probably Harry Kane's biggest fan after his mum and dad!" Merson wrote in his Sky Sports column. "I look at him and I think: ‘What are you going to win at Tottenham?’

“He's one of the best in the business at scoring goals, but he's scoring 30 goals a season and not getting chances to win trophies, what's the point in being there?

“I just cannot believe nobody has come in for him. What am I missing?! Manchester United are crying out for a goal scoring centre-forward, and if I'm being honest I think Man City are too. If Sergio Aguero gets injured, they miss too many chances. Aguero is two shots, one goal.

“I just do not understand why there is not more talk about a team signing Kane.”

Donny van de Beek has admitted United’s history with Dutch players played a part in his move to Old Trafford this summer.

The Netherlands international was signed from Ajax earlier this month and anticipation is growing ahead of his debut.

Van de Beek will hope to replicate some of his compatriots who had success at United.

"I watched United a lot [when I was younger], because a lot of Dutch players have played here and this was nice to watch if you're a young kid and you see the Dutch players there," he told Inside United magazine.

"Daley (Blind), Edwin, Robin van Persie… you see them. They won a lot of titles and United always played nice football, which was always good to see."

United remain amongst the candidates to sign Gareth Bale this summer, despite recent reports that suggest he is heading to Tottenham.

A Real Madrid official has informed AS that the Red Devils could still take the Wales international on loan.

But they will have to be quick, with Spurs reportedly in advanced talks to bring Bale back to north London.

Juventus winger Douglas Costa is the player United will turn to if they cannot complete a deal for Jadon Sancho this summer, according to the Express.

Borussia Dortmund’s £108m valuation of Sancho is still proving a stumbling block, so United may be forced to look elsewhere.

They have been linked with Gareth Bale and Ivan Perisic, but it is 30-year-old Costa who could be the most realistic addition.

The Brazilian has been put up for sale by Juventus and could be available for as little as £20m.