Confirmed – Manchester United in pole position to sign 25-year-old La Liga star
Manchester United are the frontrunners in the race to recruit Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong for next season.
According to Football Insider, Manchester United are the frontrunners for Frenkie De Jong’s signature. The Red Devils are aiming to bolster their midfield for the upcoming season and are hoping to bring the Barcelona star to Old Trafford.
United have long been connected with the Netherlands international. They attempted to sign him in the summer of 2022, but the deal fell through because De Jong decided to stay in Spain. Erik ten Hag has always admired the 25-year-old and hopes to bring him to his squad.
During his stint at Ajax, the Dutch manager collaborated with De Jong. The pair played for the Dutch club for two years, winning the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup. De Jong was an important player of Ten Hag’s team during their remarkable run in the UEFA Champions League.
Meanwhile, De Jong signed the Catalan giants for a fee of £65 million in the summer of 2019. Since joining them, he has grown from strength to strength. The Dutch international has made 172 appearances and scored 34 goals in his career.
He has been an important member of Xavi’s team this season, making 32 appearances across all competitions. So far, De Jong has only missed two La Liga games. While he wishes to remain in Barcelona and has a contract until 2026, he might be sold in the summer.
Catalan giants are in financial trouble and in desperate need of financing. According to rumours, they could sell the 25-year-old for for £70 million. United is willing to pay the sum if they can raise the money by selling some of its older players.
Erik ten Hag is eager to add the former Ajax midfielder to his squad. He is well aware of the abilities possessed by the Dutch international. And he believes that his addition will help his club advance to the next level.
Ten Hag has done an excellent job since joining United in the summer. He has already won one club trophy and is still in the running for three more. The Netherlands manager will be looking to add a few more players this summer to help his squad compete for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
United are interested in the 25-year-old but will face competition from Chelsea, who are also interested. As a result, it will be intriguing to see if he is successful in bringing De Jong to the club.
