Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, is reportedly interested in bringing Frenkie de Jong to Old Trafford after working with the Barcelona midfielder at Ajax from 2017 to 2019.
This summer, Manchester United are interested in signing Frenkie de Jong.
The transfer of Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona to Manchester United has reached a 'decisive stage,' according to reports, after the Catalan giants found a replacement.
The Red Devils seek to sign the 25-year-old Dutch midfielder ahead of their preseason tour of Asia and Australia. Erik ten Hag, the new manager, worked with De Jong at Ajax before joining Barcelona in July 2019, where he won the Eredivisie and the KVNB Cup in 2018-19.
United's initial £60 million proposal for De Jong was turned down, but they are set to make another, better offer soon. Barcelona is apparently willing to let the player depart for the proper price in order to lower their debt and payroll cost, which totaled £1 billion last year, in order to make new acquisitions.
Ten Hag is said to have persuaded De Jong to join his Old Trafford revolution, and Barcelona will sign Valencia star Carlos Soler as a substitute, according to Spanish publication AS via Sport Witness, after super-agent Jorge Mendes recommended the move.
Xavi, the manager of Barcelona, is known to be a fan of Soler. Valencia's 25-year-old midfielder has 235 appearances for the club, including helping them win the Copa del Rey in 2018-19.The midfielder has nine caps for Spain and was a member of the silver-medal-winning side at the 2016 Olympics.
The price tag Barcelona has set on De Jong is regarded to be the biggest stumbling block in United's pursuit of the midfielder. When the move was agreed in January 2019, they paid Ajax €75 million (£65 million) and an additional €11 million (£9.5 million) in add-ons. Six months later, the transfer was completed.
When Frenkie de Jong arrived from Ajax in 2019, Barcelona spent roughly £75 million on him.
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Barcelona is apparently asking €100 million (£86.1 million) for De Jong, which would allow them to make a profit. The claimed arrangement would see €80 million (£68.9 million) paid up front, with a further €20 million (£17.1 million) paid in add-ons. The player's contract has four years left on it.
Despite Barcelona's recent financial difficulties, De Jong's value has remained unchanged. During his three seasons in the Nou Camp, he has made 140 appearances and has helped the team win the Copa del Rey in 2020-21.
"I have said many times that Frenkie is very essential," Xavi remarked in May when asked about De Jong's future. He's a key player... then there's the club's financial situation, which must be decided.I'm not referring to Frenkie in particular."
United is interested in De Jong because Ten Hag wants to improve his inherited midfield. The Red Devils only have two senior central midfielders on their books: Fred and Scott McTominay, both of whom have been chastised by analysts and fans in previous seasons.
Paul Pogba, another central midfielder, will depart the club at the end of the month when his contract expires, with a return to Juventus a possibility, while Nemanja Matic has been offered a free transfer. He is expected to return to Roma, where he previously worked with Jose Mourinho.
On Saturday, a reporter questioned De Jong, "Are you leaving the Catalan beaches for the cold of Manchester?" "I can't say anything," the midfielder answered, laughing.
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