Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag wants Frenkie de Jong according to reports – and he's got good reason to believe he can snare him
(Image credit: Getty)
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could make Frenkie de Jong his first signing.
Ten Hag knows the star better than most, having worked with De Jong at Ajax when the 24-year-old first broke through the ranks at the Amsterdam giants. The recently-appointed United manager utilised the player in his midfield three and as a centre-back during his time as De Jong's manager.
With United in dire need of new blood in midfield, there could be an opportunity to snap up De Jong and give him a new lease of life under the manager that he played arguably his best football for.
(Image credit: Getty)
Spanish outlet Sport say that not only does Ten Hag have a transfer kitty of around £250m to spend this summer, but the 52-year-old has outlined his former protege as a priority signing.
De Jong agreed a deal with Barcelona for a fee upwards of £50m in 2019, during the season in which Ajax journeyed to a Champions League final. The Dutchman has struggled to replicate the same kind of match-winning performances in Catalonia, however, and is has not replaced Sergio Busquets as the 'pivote' in the Blaugranas' side.
There could be added reason to believe that De Jong will this summer end his spell in LaLiga, given the incendiary reaction he showed to being substituted last night.
(Image credit: Getty)
Xavi's side tumbled to defeat at the Camp Nou to a resolute Rayo Vallecano side who have this season completed an unlikely double over the club. Barça were missing the talismanic Pedri in midfield and looked a shadow of themselves creatively. When De Jong was replaced in the second half, the midfielder stormed down the tunnel rather than taking his place on the bench.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Barcelona are facing the prospect of losing La Masia gem Gavi, with the youngster running down his contract and Liverpool among the high-profile sides interested in his services. In a straight choice between the two, it is perhaps more likely that De Jong would be sacrificed for transfer: Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool could all rival Manchester United for his signature.
Frenkie De Jong is valued at around £63m by Transfermarkt.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
