Manchester United Closing In On Stunning €80 Million Move For Barcelona Star Frenkie De Jong

Manchester United are reportedly close to completing a stunning €80 million switch for Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.

The Netherlands international has been earmarked a top target by incoming United boss Erik ten Hag, who wants him to lead his new project at Old Trafford.

De Jong worked under Ten Hag at Ajax and developed into one of the best midfielders in the world in the 2018/19 season, when the Amsterdam outfit knocked out both Real Madrid and Juventus in a sensational run to the Champions League semi-finals.

And according to journalist Gerard Romero, the pair look set to be reunited again. With Barca struggling financially, it’s said that De Jong's departure to United is "95% confirmed".

There had been a surprise suggestion that Barca were expecting to be offered a player as part of a swap deal for De Jong - with under-fire skipper Harry Maguire, Alex Telles and Marcus Rashford some of the names mentioned.

But it appears to be a straight-cash transfer which is on the cards and a monumental one to usher in a new era at United.

De Jong signed for Barcelona in a €75 million move to Barca in 2019 and has gone on to play 139 times for the Blaugrana.

“The quality of your players decide how you will play, and with what system," Ten Hag said on his use of De Jong back in 2019.

"We had to find a way to make Frenkie function in the best possible way. You saw his incredible talent, but where do we have to use him to get the best out of him and his talent?

“Eventually I decided to play with two ‘number 6’ players on the pitch. Once I did this you saw how much better he became on the pitch, and how much better he made the whole team play and especially the attackers.”