Manchester United are close to agreeing a fee with Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong, with an agreement 90 per cent completed, according to reports.
It has been reported by Sky Sports, that Manchester United and Barcelona are close to agreeing a fee for the central midfielder in the region of £56m plus add-ons relating to the player’s performance.
This development has improved the confidence inside Old Trafford that de Jong will be a Manchester United player for the 22/23 season, with this satisfying the desperate need for a central midfielder.
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The positive update on the de Jong deals comes amidst news that Erik ten Hag has told Barcelona that current captain, Harry Maguire, is not for sale.
It is thought that personal terms will not be a problem between the player and the club, with the club able to offer the 24 year-old increased financial and playing incentives, following the exit of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata.
Erik ten Hag will be excited by the signing, having made de Jong his priority signing, having coached the player at Ajax between 2017 and 2019.
In this time, Ajax won the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup, as well as making it to the Champions League semi finals, with de Jong very much at the centre of this team alongside current Manchester United player, Donny van der Beek.
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The latest report from Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail says that the lure of having Ten Hag as his manager again was a major reason behind De Jong’s willingness to a Manchester United move.
Mokbel added that an agreement between the clubs was 90% completed, with finer details left to finalised. There is a growing sense that a deal can be struck this week.
The Dutchman enjoyed three relatively good seasons at Barcelona, with 140 appearances for the club across all competitions.
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Being used primarily as a central midfielder, de Jong was also used on both sides of the pitch, as well as a centre back and defensive midfielder.
At Ajax, de Jong was used most prominently as a defensive midfielder, with this potentially satisfying the demand at Old Trafford for an effective defensive midfielder that can help with the transition of the ball from the back to the front, allowing for better link up play and therefore a more cohesive style of play.
Fans of United will be hoping that the imminent arrival of the Dutchman will help stimulate the team in the next season, as they look to build upon a poor 2021/22 campaign under the new leadership of Erik ten Hag.
Having played for two teams that typically challenge for both their domestic league titles and European cups, de Jong will provide the type of mentality and experience that is required in a United squad that must push for silverware in this coming season.
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Concluding this deal will allow for the recruitment team at Old Trafford to focus on targets elsewhere, with Erik ten Hag reportedly targeting up to four other signings after securing de Jong.
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Lisandro Martinez of Ajax is consistently linked with a move to United, with teammate, Antony, also reported to be a major target for the Reds. It has been alleged that buying both players will cost United £130m, due to Ajax’s reluctance to sell both star players in the same window.
Regardless of the situation surrounding other targets, all focus for the near future will be on securing Frenkie de Jong ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Frenkie De Jong, Erik Ten Hag, Barcelona, Football, Premier League
