2 years ago
Manchester United have already made their next move following their double transfer breakthrough.
Man United have had bids for Frenkie de Jong and Tyrell Malacia accepted, and will now focus on signing a versatile forward who can play across Erik ten Hag's front line.
Manchester United have gone Double Dutch after bids for midfielder Frenkie De Jong and left-back Tyrell Malacia were accepted.
De Jong and Malacia are set to join new manager Erik ten Hag's Old Trafford rebuild after United agreed to terms with both players. After lengthy negotiations with Barcelona, United have agreed on an initial fee of £56 million for De Jong, which could rise to £70 million with add-ons.
United are also closing in on the signing of Feyenoord left-back Malacia, having outbid French club Lyon with a bid of £13 million, which could rise to £15 million with add-ons. Frank Arnesen, Feyenoord's sporting director, confirmed United's bid had been accepted.
"There is an agreement with Manchester United," he said. "Now we're waiting for Tyrell." If he says yes, a move to Manchester United is on the cards."
Contract talks will be a formality for De Jong, who will earn around £250,000 per week at United on a five-year contract.United are hoping that De Jong will be able to participate in the team's upcoming tour of Thailand and Australia.
A week from Friday, United will fly to Bangkok to face Liverpool in the first leg of the tour, which also includes pre-season friendlies in Melbourne and Perth.
United were under pressure to strengthen in central midfield after losing two key players in Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic this summer.Ten Hag had previously worked with De Jong at Ajax and made the midfielder his top transfer target when he accepted the United job.
Barcelona, which paid Ajax £75 million for De Jong in 2019, was forced to sell him in order to address serious financial issues and strengthen their own squad.
Once the De Jong deal is completed, United will look to sign a versatile forward who can play in a variety of positions across the front line.
United are interested in Ajax's Brazilian winger Antony, but the Dutch club's £70 million valuation of the 22-year-old makes a deal unlikely.
United believes that a fee of around £40 million is a more realistic reflection of Antony's market value, but Ajax is unconcerned and will only do so on their terms.
Christian Eriksen, a free agent, is another midfield option, but the Denmark international is also being courted by Brentford, where he spent the second half of last season.
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