According to reliable West Ham United club insider @ExWHUemployee on his latest The West Ham Way blog, the east London club held talks with Manchester United about a potential transfer deal last week, but it was nothing to do with Marko Arnautovic following the rumour that Jose Mourinho is keen to sign the Austria international.

While @ExWHUemployee says that the Irons have an interest in goalkeeper Sam Johnstone as they look to provide Adrian with some much-needed competition following Joe Hart's unsuccessful loan spell, there could be a number of other Red Devils players that were discussed.

New Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini is clearly determined to strengthen his newly-inherited squad this summer, and there are a number of positions across the team that could do with reinforcing – including in attacking midfield after Manuel Lanzini's huge injury blow while on international duty with Argentina that could keep him out for the entire 2018/19 campaign.

The Chilean boss, whose reign at the London Stadium would be getting off to a calamitous start if he signed a reported 30-year-old target, will have spread his net worldwide, but perhaps some of the solutions to his biggest problems may have been found at Old Trafford.

Here are three Man United players West Ham could be in talks to sign…

Pellegrini reportedly wants to add some youth and pace to his team this summer, and he could certainly do that if he adds the versatile Fosu-Mensah to his squad this summer.

The young Dutchman is highly-rated at Old Trafford, but he suffered something of a disappointing season-long loan spell with the Irons' London rivals Crystal Palace last season having been brought in and made a regular in the XI in Frank de Boer's short time in charge, before he fell slightly more out of favour under Roy Hodgson.

Nevertheless, the 6ft 3in 20-year-old can play as a right-back, centre-back and defensive midfielder, and West Ham need strengthening in the latter two positions in particular.

The 6ft 4in central/defensive midfielder enjoyed a brilliant breakthrough 2017/18 campaign for United, and he made 23 first-team appearances in total having clearly impressed Jose Mourinho.

The 21-year-old even kept Paul Pogba on the substitutes' bench at times, but his opportunities may be slightly more limited in the upcoming season if Pogba finds form again and following the arrival of Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk.

If that proves to be the case then Mourinho could choose to loan the Scot out for more regular minutes, and he would be a welcome addition in the middle for West Ham given Cheikhou Kouyate's struggles last term.

Despite bursting on to the scene in 2016 and looking to have a really bright future ahead of him, Rashford is still yet to establish himself as a regular starter for United, and he was often on the end of some sly public criticism from Mourinho – especially towards the latter stages of the 2017/18 campaign.

The Portuguese manager may feel that a loan spell away from Old Trafford could be beneficial for the 20-year-old, who would surely interest Pellegrini given the pace and overall quality that he has.

Rashford showed with his brilliant strike for England against Costa Rica last week the ability that he has in the final third, and he would certainly add something to the West Ham frontline – whether it be through the centre or from out wide.

What do you think, Irons fans? Let us know below.