Gary Neville claims It will be ‘horrific’ if Frenkie de Jong ends up moving to Chelsea and would be something ‘one does not even contemplate thinking about’.

The De Jong saga has dominated Manchester United’s transfer window with the Dutchman being Erik ten Hag’s top target throughout the summer.

The midfielder played under United’s new boss at Ajax and Ten Hag is desperate for a reunion at Old Trafford.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is reportedly set to join Chelsea for a £68m fee

It looked like the deal had been done at one point after the Red Devils agreed a £63million fee with Barcelona.

But De Jong’s reluctance to leave the Nou Camp, along with significant complications with the Spanish giant’s finances with disputes over unpaid wages to the Dutchman, means the move is looking increasingly unlikely.

De Jong was reportedly unwilling to move to a club not in the Champions League, with Ten Hag’s side competing in the Europa League this season.

And it could be about to get worse for United as Chelsea have reportedly agreed a £68m fee for the player.

If the midfielder does move to Stamford Bridge, it would be devastating for United, according to Neville.

‘If they (United) don’t get him, it’s embarrassing but if he goes to Chelsea, it’s horrific,’ he told , speaking ahead of United’s Premier League defeat to Brighton.

‘If he doesn’t want to come the deal would have been switched off a few weeks ago.

‘Because of the relationship the player has with the manager, there must be some communication between them that’s saying, ‘wait for me I’m coming’.

‘There are three outcomes. One, he comes and Man United look smart and patient.

‘The second is that he stays at Barca and there’s a bit of embarrassment because they’ve put all their eggs in one basket, and they haven’t got anyone else in.

‘They’ve got a void in the squad, they’re starting the season with Fred and McTominay, and it makes them look like they can’t get a deal over the line.

‘The third one does not even contemplate thinking about – he goes to a rival club in the Premier League against the manager who he’d worked under for the previous few years.’

United’s midfield was again woefully exposed during Sunday’s dismal 2-1 loss to Graham Potter’s side with Fred and Scott McTominay heavily criticised for their performances.

Ten Hag is set to strengthen his midfield in spite of the lack of progress on De Jong, with Juventus’s Adrien Rabiot expected to sign for £15m but there are question marks surrounding his attitude and suitability to Ten Hag’s system.