Manchester United are in the market to improve their midfield this summer and Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong is believed to be Erik ten Hag’s No. 1 target after previously working together at Ajax.
Video upload
Video not available
The video will play automatically soon8Cancel
Play now
Man Utd issues De Jong ultimatum; Arsenal plan Zinchenko swoop; West Ham are considering selling Soucek
Frenkie De Jong “enjoyed working with Erik ten Hag”, but reiterated that his preference is to stay in Barcelona this summer.
The Dutchman has just finished his third season at the Camp Nou, but is closely linked to his move to Manchester United. Catalans are trying to balance the books while dealing with financial issues that could still force them to take advantage of De Jong.
United are looking for a central midfielder and Ten Hag has seen first hand how De Jong can be effective during his tenure at Ajax. The Barcelona man, who left the Dutch giants in 2019, played a key role on his way to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Man Utd are responding to Jurrien Timber’s price tag, as the one-time transfer from Ajax indicates the worst Premier League signings ranked with the unfortunate Paul Pogba on the list.
De Jong has had conversations with Xavi about his future as a legend of the club – and now coach – that is trying to renew the squad in Catalonia. The 25-year-old said: “I have enough confidence in myself [to be a success at Barcelona]. I’m not afraid. I recently talked a lot with the coach [Xavi]. It was a very good conversation.
“I will not go into that [the links to United]. Not even about other names or clubs. I used to be naive and open about it. I don’t do that anymore. I understand that this link is made. This sum is not so difficult, it is logical. I enjoyed working with Ten Hag at Ajax, and I can’t look to the future, of course. But I prefer to stay in Barcelona.
“This has always been my dream club and it still is. As long as I don’t listen to the club’s management, I guess nothing will happen.” De Jong is competing for a place in the middle of the field with the very thoughtful young Pedri and Gavi.
Erik ten Hag has previously seen Frenkie de Jong thrive at Ajax (
Image:
Getty Images)
Barcelona lost the LaLiga title, but showed at first glance what it can offer after a January window that saw Xavi sign Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Robert Lewandowski is now linked to a change in Spain after expressing his desire to leave Germany.
But the Barcelona coach has confessed that, although De Jong is a key figure, the club’s finances must be taken into account. He said: “He is a very important player for me. He has been a starter almost all the time. He is a fundamental footballer but then there is the economic situation, on which we all depend ”.
“We have to know the financial situation to make some decisions and then we will make one decision or another, I don’t mean Frenkie, I mean in general. He is a player I really like, but we’ll see what the situation is. “
Read more
Man Utd risk repeating Angel Di Maria’s mistake with Frenkie de Jong’s transfer chase
Read more
The young man from Man Utd leaves after rejecting the opportunity to stay with Erik ten Hag