For the past few days, various claims from the Spanish press have mentioned Manchester United’s interest in Frenkie de Jong.
The Red Devils wanting the Barcelona player surfaced soon after they confirmed the appointment of Erik ten Hag as their new permanent manager. Sport even stated the midfielder is a ‘priority target’ for the incoming coach.
Since then, it’s been made clear the current Ajax boss will be key for Manchester United to have any chance of securing the 24-year-old’s signature in the summer.
Xavi Hernández replaced Ronald Koeman last November and the Netherlands international initially struggled under the Spaniard. Although he started to showcase his qualities, AS on Tuesday explain De Jong’s latest performances have been ‘highly disappointing’.
When giving the background, the newspaper points out Barca president Joan Laporta had already complained about the player’s poor performances. Xavi had also indirectly aimed a dig at De Jong in public.
However, the ex-Ajax star had improved his performances, before starting to disappoint again in recent fixtures. AS claim the Dutchman ‘seemed like an exhausted and blocked player’.
After a 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano last weekend, Barca official Jordi Cruyff admitted De Jong is “highly valued at the club and in the market.” However, his latest situation at the club could open the door for him to arrive at Manchester United.
According to AS, it is an ‘open secret’ that Ten Hag would like to have his compatriot as part of his new project at Old Trafford.
Barcelona, for their part, will not close the door for a potential operation, and would ask around €70m to part ways with De Jong in the summer.
With De Jong going through a rough patch at the Camp Nou, the report states the support for him is ‘not unanimous’ at the club. Some of Barca’s leaders think he can be their future leader, while other believe ‘he is not playing at the level of a footballer who cost €86m’.
Again, this all feels like an effort from Spain to float the idea of selling De Jong in the summer window.
