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Manchester United’s negotiations with Barcelona over the signing of Frenkie de Jong appear to be approaching the final stages, with the clubs reaching a breakthrough in talks.
As has been heavily reported on so far throughout this summer, new Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has identified Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong as his primary transfer target for this window.
After previously being quoted a transfer fee of €85 million (£73.2 million), Manchester United remained resilient on not wanting to pay such a high fee.
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The Manchester club’s first offer came in at approximately £56 million earlier this month, this offer was swiftly rejected, and negotiations between the two sides resumed.
Now though, it appears the two sides are at a compromise, with it being reported by The Telegraph’s Ian Whittell that both parties are close to agreeing a fee of approximately £69 million.
The talks between United and Barca are now “progressing well”, with sources from both teams confirming as much.
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Despite the greenlight on the transfer seemingly now being lit, United are yet to begin discussions directly with De Jong over personal terms.
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However, these discussions are not expected to be problematic, with United expecting to have the signing wrapped up as early as the end of this coming week.
If De Jong is to join ‘The Red Devils’, as it now looks he will, it will mark a reunion for the talented Dutch midfielder with his former boss Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag would manage De Jong for several years at Ajax, where the midfielder would be instrumental in their 2018-19 Eredivisie title winning campaign. A season in which De Jong would be crowned player of the competition, whilst Ten Hag would be crowned the winner of the Rinus Michels award.
It appears though that if Frenkie de Jong is Manchester United’s first signing of the summer, he will not be the last.
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Earlier this weekend it was reported that signing De Jong will lead to “A series of incomings.”
Additionally, it was noted that the prospect of playing alongside Frenkie de Jong is very appealing to Christian Eriksen.
Eriksen, another one of United’s transfer targets is reportedly set to decide his next club in the coming days.
Additionally, Ten Hag is also reportedly looking at several targets from his former club Ajax.
A recent report named Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Nicolas Tagliafico as three names Ten Hag would like to take from the Amsterdam based club.
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Antony, the former of those three names, is reportedly “determined” to be reunited with Ten Hag at United.
However, the high price fee hanging over the Brazilian winger's head may well place any move to United in serious jeopardy, with the Dutch side reportedly demanding £69 million for the attacker.
Erik ten Hag is due to report to Carrington training complex on Sunday as Manchester United’s pre-season training commences on 26 June.
The club will fly to Bangkok to face Liverpool on 12 July in the first of six pre-season friendlies, before heading over to Australia to play Melbourne Victory, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
The side will then head back to Northern Europe to face Atletico Madrid in Oslo on 30 July, before a fixture at Old Trafford the next day against Rayo Vallecano sees the club wrap their pre-season tour up before kicking their Premier League season off against Brighton & Hove Albion on the 2022/23 opening weekend.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Frenkie De Jong, Christian Eriksen