Reports emerging that Real Madrid has not lost hope of nabbing Paul Pogba's signature out from under the wallet of Manchester United will have Red Devils fans breaking out in a tabloid-sized sweat today. 

The eleventh-hour snub is a scenario that rankles with United fans familiar with the routine of anxiously checking the phone each morning to see if that increasingly speculated upon deal for X mega-player has been completed, only to be crushed as said superstar heads somewhere else at the last minute.

Think Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantra, Thomas Muller and Karem Benzema, among others. 

As Pogba and his agent, Mino Raiola, continue to thrash out a deal with Juventus, Real Madrid has re-emerged as a viable destination for a player who has publicly stated his preference to join the European champion.

As Juve plays hardball over Raiola's rumoured $20 million agents' fee, Madrid is starting to make public noises about the prospect of swooping in for the highly-rated France midfielder. 

It wouldn't be the first time the Red Devils have been left red faced around the negotiating table. In fact, if the Premier League giant had landed all the high-profile players it had made offers to over the past decade, Pogba would struggle to even get into the all star line-up, as was the case last time he was a United player.

We've had a crack at compiling a Manchester United 'Snubbed XI', based on players heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, who either stayed on with their existing club, or turned down an offer. 

Fittingly it was difficult to include them all, with the likes of Sadio Mane, Renato Sanches and Benzema snubbed from our snubbed selection. Suffice to say, this team would give the continent a shake - something United has struggled to do in recent years. 

Goalkeeper:

Manuel Neuer:

While Neuer was still in 'potential star' territory, playing for Schalke in 2011, he was heavily linked to a move to Manchester United, where he was viewed as a natural heir to Edwin Van Der Sar. The play-making gloveman hosed down the speculation, insisting he wanted to stay in Germany and has since established himself as the world's best 'keeper, at Bayern Munich. 

Defenders:

Yuto Nagatomo:

The Japanese international revealed he turned down an offer from United in January to remain at Internazionale, where he has established himself as a premier attack-minded defender. Versatile enough to operate on the right or left flank, Nagamoto was viewed as a possible solution to two of united's most troublesome positions. 

Sergio Ramos:

The name still hurts United fans. Ramos to Old Trafford was the 'will he or won't he' protracted story of last Summer's transfer window as tales of unhappiness at the bernabeu and the deal all-but being complete clogged the back pages. In the end Ramos turned down a reported $A260,000-a-week deal to stay in Spain, leaving United fans with another one-that-got-away war story.

Mats Hummels:

That fantasy pairing of World Cup winners Ramos and Hummels will forever be the stuff of dreams for Manchester United, which was heavily linked with the German star before he announced a deal with Bayern Munich in May. In numerous interviews the ex-Dortmund star hinted that United's lack of UEFA Champions League involvement this season was a decisive factor for him.   

Danilo: 

Would Brazil international right back Danilo have played more if he'd signed with United, rather than Real Madrid, last season? We'll never know. Suffice to say, United was reportedly ready to meet the defender's $63 million release clause, before the player had a change of heart and signed for the Spanish giant. 

Midfielders: 

Aaron Ramsey:

Next time you want to have a crack at Arsene Wenger, consider he was the reason Wales star Aaron Ramsey says he snubbed a move to Sir Alex Ferguson's United in 2008, to sign on with the Frenchman at Arsenal. 

Cesc Fabregas:

David Moyes revealed his attempts to bring Fabregas to Old Trafford when he took over from Ferguson in 2013. The Spanish play-maker, who seems an annual fixture on the transfer speculation merry-go-round, opted to stay at Barcelona, before eventually linking up with Chelsea. For its part, United got Marouane Fellaini.

Thiago Alcantara:

Thiago was another of the faces of Moyes's struggle to land any of his desired targets, the smooth play-making midfielder opting to follow Pep Guardiola from Barcelona to Bayern Munich in 2013, rather than heading to the Premier League club, to which he had been heavily linked. Alcantara later played down the speculation, claiming no concrete offer was made, rather, David De Gea had pleaded with him to sign for the Red Devils and it had been blown out of proportion.

Forwards:

Neymar:

Whether it's Neymar, or Cristiano Ronaldo, or Gareth Bale, every transfer window there seems to be a big name player tantalisingly close to a move to Old Trafford. Earlier this year it was the Brazilian ace's turn. And his father was happy to fan the flames, claiming in May that United put in a $260 million transfer request for his son last year. United is said to have continued its pursuit of the attacker this season, before Neymar himself put an end to the frantic speculation in June by signing on for five more years at the Catalan giant.

Thomas Muller:

It was the feel-good story of last January: Thomas Muller reuniting with the coach who gave him his start - Louis Van Gaal - at Manchester United. Last December it emerged United had a $105 million offer for Muller turned down, but the idea of him linking up with LvG gathered momentum regardless. Until Muller signed a six-year extension that effectively shut down the talk. 

Eden Hazard:

Hazard stunned both Manchester clubs in 2013 by signing with then defending UEFA Champions League winner Chelsea. The Belgian flyer cited Chelsea's standing in Europe was the main reason for snubbing United, which viewed him as an essential attacking plank as it looked to rebuild at the end of the Ferguson era. 

As this list of star talent has shown, that rebuild was and continues to be, fraught with difficulty.