Manchester United's Erik ten Hag rejected signing of former Liverpool star due to Frenkie de Jong interest

It has been made increasingly obvious over the last few weeks that Erik ten Hag is in need of multiple midfielders during this transfer window.

As has been widely covered throughout this window, Manchester United very much want Frenkie de Jong to sign for the club this summer.

Erik ten Hag reportedly saw the player as a perfect option to create the sort of football that he desires within his squad.

🗞 Erik ten Hag feels Frenkie de Jong’s attributes were essential to the passing and possession style he wants to implement at #mufc. As there was belief that a deal could be reached at one stage, Ten Hag thought it was unnecessary to consider alternatives. [@SamiMokbel81_DM]

— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) August 10, 2022

As it looked earlier in the summer that United were quite likely to sign the player earlier on in the window, it has been reported that Erik ten Hag saw no need to consider alternative targets.

However, since a deal is now looking less and less likely to be completed, Manchester United are targeting Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot, with a fee of around £15 million reportedly being agreed between the two clubs.

The club are also considering a bid for Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who has been linked with the Red Devils for many years.

It has now been revealed on Sky Sports’ Transfer Show by reporter Kaveh Solhekol that Manchester United, and more specifically Erik ten Hag, rejected the chance to sign Gini Wijnaldum from PSG.

Solhekol said on the Transfer Show: "I've been told that Ten Hag turned down the chance to sign Gini Wijnaldum from PSG.

"We saw last week that Gini Wijnaldum has agreed a deal to join up with Roma and Jose Mourinho.”

Jose Mourinho and Manchester United have an obvious history, with the manager formerly managing the club and being the last man in charge to win a trophy during his period at the helm – the 2017 Europa League competition.

"I've been told that United were offered the chance to sign the player, who has won the title with Liverpool and Champions League,” Solhekol continued.

"But Erik ten Hag didn't want him, even though the player was willing to move to Manchester United."

With Wijnaldum now signing for Jose Mourinho’s Roma alongside Paulo Dybala and others, this is now an option that can no longer be considered by the club.

Jose Mourinho was also keen on signing United’s Eric Bailly on loan for the Italian outfit, however all loan offers for Bailly are currently being rejected as the club want to sell him for a fee instead.

🗞 AS Monaco are looking to sign Eric Bailly on loan with an option to buy. However, #mufc want to sell him and have so far refused all loan approaches, including one from AS Roma. [@lequipe]

— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) August 8, 2022

Manchester United are due to take on Brentford in London in their second Premier League match of the season after a disappointing opening weekend loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.