Manchester United Handed Boost in Race for ‘Extraordinary’ Midfielder

Manchester United could be back in the market for Frenkie de Jong this summer as their main rivals for the Dutchman’s signature are said to have other transfer priorities.

Ex-Bayern Munich Target Could Reappear on Manchester United Radar

Ten Hag’s Perfect Midfield Duo

De Jong rose to stardom after becoming a crucial part of Erik ten Hag’s midfield setup at Ajax. Together, the pair won two Eredivisie trophies and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Ten Hag pushed hard to bring his countryman to Old Trafford upon his arrival in 2022, but a move never materialized.

Speaking to Gary Neville on Sky Sports, the Dutchman revealed his initial plan for United’s midfield line, saying: “It would have been Frenkie de Jong and Casemiro [in midfield]. They would really be connected with each other. They would be really complementary to each other. That’s a typical player, if you want to play the Ajax style, you need that type of player.”

Ten Hag’s future at the club is far from certain ahead of the next season. However, the manager could revive his interest in De Jong as the Red Devils prepare for a major squad overhaul this summer.

Bayern Munich Links and Swap-Deal Rumours

De Jong’s name has been mentioned among Bayern’s midfield targets for the past four years. Following their unsuccessful pursuit of Fulham’s Joao Palhinha last summer, the German giants are expected to return to the market for a new midfielder.

However, German publication Bild has claimed (via iMiaSanMia) that De Jong is not a top target for Bayern as they look to sign a “classic” holding midfielder. This would be good news for United if they make another push for the Dutchman this summer.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are open to selling their star midfielder if he doesn’t renew his contract in the coming weeks. The Catalans have reportedly put a £60 million price tag on the former Ajax star.

Less reliable sources in Spain have claimed the Red Devils are open to discussing a swap deal for the “extraordinary” midfielder. According to El Nacional (via TeamTalk), Jorge Mendes is in talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe over the possibility of sending Bruno Fernandes to Camp Nou in a bid to sign De Jong this summer.