Manchester United may try again to get Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona before the January transfer deadline despite their unsuccessful pursuit of the player earlier this season
Manchester Evening News reports that Frenkie de Jong, a midfielder for Barcelona, is still high on Dutch manager Erik ten Hag’s transfer wish list. The Red Devils “have also not ruled out another attempt to sign” Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham. Ten Hag is looking to add some dynamic depth to his midfield before the end of the January transfer window.
A transfer price in the range of €85 million was agreed upon last summer when the Red Devils were very keen on acquiring the Netherlands international from the Blaugrana. Despite this, De Jong stayed put at Barcelona. He claimed he had no intention of ever leaving the Spanish powerhouses. On the other hand, there was a scandal around postponed wages.
What’s the matter?
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Since then, United has focused on acquiring Brazilian dynamo Casemiro from Real Madrid, a move that has had a seismic effect on the club’s fortunes this season. But the Brazilian will be 31 shortly. Christian Eriksen is already well into his thirties. So United must recruit another top-quality playmaker in the mould of the Danish star.
Pedri is a 100 carat 💎 pic.twitter.com/13UxzMy5MQ
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 29, 2023
It seems like Ten Hag has settled on De Jong as his target. Reports now stating that the Man Utd manager is still interested in signing the Dutch midfielder. They won’t rule out making another offer to get him to Old Trafford. Some media outlets have speculated that if Manchester United qualify for the Champions League this season, they may persuade De Jong to leave Barcelona and reconnect with his old Ajax boss, Ten Hag, at Old Trafford.
The team’s recent success under its new manager, who has brought a new level of professionalism to the club, bodes well for their chances of achieving their stated goal. In short, De Jong is the ideal player to help Man United reach the next level in the Premier League.
Will Frenkie De Jong leave Barca?
The Red Devils sometimes have trouble penetrating low defensive blocks. They do not have a reliable ball carrier in the center of the field. With De Jong, they’d be taken to a whole new level. The Dutchman is a terrific distributor and a bundle of positive energy when he has the ball.
He, like Eriksen, has the ability to set the tempo of the game. He is also capable of making forward movement with the ball at his feet by dribbling through crowded areas. After the drama of the summer before, it would look like a major coup for Manchester United to sign De Jong and bring him to Old Trafford. After making a significant statement with the purchase of Casemiro in August, a signing of the 25-year-old would send a similar message.
But whether or not Xavi, his supervisor at Barca, would be pleased to let him leave remains to be seen. Jude Bellingham has also been mentioned in the report as a prospective target. However at this time, it seems very improbable that any of them will be attacked. The Red Devils should reconsider signing the veteran pair next summer.
