The Old Trafford club have been told that there is no prospect of the Wales international moving to United this summer.

As such they have turned to the unsettled Belgian, who has struggled to live up to his billing as Premier League Player of the Year last term and has reportedly decided to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

While United hope that a weekly wage in the region of £250,000 could sway the player, who turned 25 on Thursday, Chelsea believe that appointing Didier Drogba on to their coaching staff could tempt him to finally stay.