Manchester United’s high-profile pursuit of Frenkie de Jong ended without reward as the summer transfer window draped the closing curtain, but fresh reports claim the club may harken back to their previous interest.
What’s the latest?
The Red Devils’ interest in De Jong last summer was hotter than a raging furnace, with efforts to clinch the FC Barcelona maestro’s signature resulting in tweets from the likes of Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg that a deal was “on the verge” of being completed.
However, as the summer transfer saga laboured on, the Dutchman’s arrival in Manchester slipped away from reality, with the player deciding against a move due to United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
And now the Manchester Evening News report that United boss Erik ten Hag has not lost hope on an agreement, suggesting the club are still open to making a move for him. It’s thought the United boss regards him as a world-class talent.
A Fred upgrade
To surge back into the pool and emerge with De Jong in tow would be a monumental feat for the red side of Manchester, a statement signing that embodies a golden new dawn under ten Hag’s tutelage.
Since signing for Barcelona from boyhood club AFC Ajax in a £65m deal in 2019, De Jong has maintained his status as one of football’s premier midfielders, making 157 appearances and scoring 15 goals and 19 assists, winning the 2020/21 Copa del Rey.
He has been a beacon of positivity throughout his time with La Blaugrana, recording an average rating of 7.28 in La Liga this season, averaging a pass success rate of 90%, making 1.5 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per outing.
The improvement into the Red Devils’ midfield would be seismic, creating a sense of stability and a platform for impactful change.
In retrospect to the 50-cap ace’s fortunes, Old Trafford’s Fred has recorded an average rating of 6.71 in the Premier League this term, only completing 81% of his passes from his industrious role and averaging just 0.8 tackles and 0.7 interceptions per outing.
Signing from Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of £52m plus bonuses, the Brazilian Fred has largely failed to live up to the price tag, and there is an overarching sense that the Theatre of Dreams’ central engine would receive a huge lift with the entry of De Jong, consequently bolstering the collective fortunes of the squad.
Man United agreed to pay Barcelona £74m for the 25-year-old in the summer, to no eventual avail. Now, a deal must be forged once again for this “incredible” midfield maestro – as dubbed by Louis van Gaal – he will strike a blow into the Red Devils’ opposition, leading the illustrious club to glory once again.