Desailly would be an ideal short-term solution to the problems that have affected the Premiership champions' quest to provide manager Sir Alex Ferguson with a fitting swansong in his final season at the helm.
The Frenchman's robust, uncompromising style would be the perfect anchor for a United rearguard that has been all at sea since the shock departure of Jaap Stam in August.
His fearsome reputation would bring some much-needed stability to a central defence that has sifted its way through a dozen different partnerships this term.
The 33-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Milan in the summer of 1998, has been sidelined for the past month with an Achilles injury he sustained while on international duty in the controversial friendly in Australia.
In his absence, John Terry and William Gallas have formed an imposing pairing at the heart of The Blues' back-line and Desailly faces a fight to reclaim his berth in the team.
With Desailly determined to figure in France's defence of their World Cup title, regular first team football is on his agenda and a sensational switch to Old Trafford would reunite him with his international colleagues Fabien Barthez and Mickael Silvestre as well as former central defensive partner, Laurent Blanc.
It is the veteran Frenchman that has been singled out for the malaise that has witnessed the faltering champions concede 27 Premiership goals, but the symptoms were in evidence before Blanc's arrival.
Added to the chopping-and-changing that has unsettled the United defence are long-term injuries to Wes Brown and Ronny Johnsen, and a swoop for Desailly would be a much-needed boost.
Desailly has won virtually every major honour in the game, with The Premiership the only trophy that has eluded him, and while The Red Devils have written off their prospects of capturing a historic fourth consecutive crown, they remain more realistic future championship contenders than Chelsea.
United have made concerted attempts to lure the Gallic ace to Old Trafford in the past, but they were rebuffed in their efforts to entice him away from Stamford Bridge 18 months ago.
At the time of the interest, Desailly admitted he was honoured to be linked with The Red Devils.
"I am aware of United`s interest and I am flattered," Desailly said.
"Who wouldn't dream of playing for Manchester United?" he said. "It is an offer, prestigious though it is, among many offers that have come my way."
