However, the feeling remains that Chelsea’s interest in Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron was only intensified by United’s belief that the Ronaldinho deal was in the bag.

So, if, as expected, Veron does conclude a move to Stamford Bridge this week, United chief executive Peter Kenyon will have to move fast to assure his club’s supporters that they haven’t been dealt a double blow.

While Kenyon has twice publicly denied United have received any offer for the 28-year-old star, who cost a then record £28.1m (€39.8m) when he signed from Lazio two summers ago, manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed at the weekend that Veron had been given the opportunity to join Chelsea but had turned it down.

Apart from the flippant dismissal of Veron as an ’important squad man’, Ferguson added that it was ’just as well he turned down the move’, which only further fuels the belief that the Argentine was informed he was surplus to requirements because another South American star was expected at the Old Trafford check-in desk.

Ronaldinho though will be playing against United next Sunday when his new club Barcelona take on Ferguson’s men in the final match of the Champions World exhibition series in Philadelphia, by which time Veron’s move to Chelsea should be confirmed.

“The meeting with Chelsea today is very important,” Veron’s agent Fernando Hildago told the Guardian.

“Everything is okay at the moment but we will need to confirm what we discussed yesterday.

“If Seba is very happy with what Chelsea offered then we will close the contract with Manchester United.”

Apart from taking a massive loss on the player in financial terms, and admitting that he has been unable to blend Veron’s undoubted skills into his all-conquering side, Ferguson has also exposed his midfield to accusations of a lack of game-breaking quality.

His two summer arrivals in that department, Cameroon’s Eric Djemba Djemba and Brazilian Klebersen – whose transfer is subject to a work permit application early next month – are both seen as defensive midfielders in the mould of Roy Keane and Nicky Butt.

With David Beckham sold to Real Madrid for £25million, Ferguson would appear to have only Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes remaining who can supply silk to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s steel – unless another purchase is in the offing.

There have been suggestions that Ferguson would deploy a new 4-2-3-1 formation next year, which as it presently stands would see Scholes, Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer operating behind Ruud van Nistelrooy.

While none of those players are exactly lacking in the skills department, United would still lack cover for such a system and the odds are that there will be at least one new face on the books to compensate for Veron’s anticipated move.

In the wake of the collapse of Ronaldinho’s transfer, Ferguson said he would be ’drawing breath’ before re-entering the market again.

“There are probably two or three players we will be interested in over the next few weeks but we are analysing the situation and we are not doing any business at the moment,” he said in the aftermath of United’s 4-0 win over Celtic in Seattle a week ago.

Technically, Ferguson has until August 31 to sign players who would be eligible for the Champions League.

However, by then the defence of their Premiership title will be four games old and if there is no sign of a big-name arrival, disgruntled voices are bound to be raised.

Real Betis’ star Joaquin has long been linked with an Old Trafford move, but with the money from Beckham’s sale and shortly Veron as well burning a hole in his pocket, Ferguson has the cash to launch an audacious raid, with Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira among the men the United boss is known to admire.