Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United handed transfer boost for Frenkie De Jong as Barcelona target Valencia star Carlos Soler as replacement
According to Spanish publication Sport (h/t The Sun), Barcelona are open to selling Frenkie de Jong in the upcoming summer transfer window due to their financial crunch, with the Catalans already looking at Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler as a potential replacement.
de Jong has been a regular for Barca since his move from Ajax Amsterdam in 2019, becoming a key cog in the team’s midfield engine. Alongside Sergio Busquets in the middle of the park, the Dutchman has been pulling the strings for his side.
United are keen to sign the Holland international in the summer in order to bolster their squad with quality players, with the La Liga giants looking to rake in around £65m from his sale. However, the English club will need to battle Paris Saint-Germain for de Jong’s signature.
The Premier League side are hoping that the presence of Erik ten Hag in their dugout will be enough to convince de Jong to swap Spain for England, having previously worked with the manager at Ajax. They have also issued an ultimatum to Barca, stating they are willing to move on to other targets.
Easing Valencia’s financial struggles
The Red Devils could now potentially take one step closer to landing the midfielder, with Barcelona looking to raise money by selling de Jong. It is said that they have identified Soler as a potential replacement for the Dutchman, and land the Valencia man for a cut-price in the summer.
The Nou Camp outfit recognises Soler as a player who has the potential to become a top star in the future, and could sign the 25-year-old for cheap as he is entering the final year of his contract. With Los Che also struggling financially, they could sell their midfielder if he is also keen on a move.
This development in Spain comes as a big transfer boost for the United, who are keen to reinforce their midfield. Their current crop of options have proven to be inconsistent this season, unable to dictate the tempo of the game and take control on the pitch.
Furthermore, the impending departures of midfield stars like Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic when their contracts run out in the summer leave a big gap in the squad. Matic has already announced his intention to leave the club, while Pogba has not given any indication that he is looking to renew his deal.
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This leaves the Red Devils having to rely on Donny van de Beek, Fred, and Scott McTominay as their only options in the middle of the park. While van de Beek has barely been afforded any opportunities since his move from Ajax in 2020, Fred and McTominay have not been able to enforce themselves against stronger opposition.
A signing like de Jong could prove to be a fantastic addition to the team in the summer, with the Dutchman proving his quality and talent over the years. If signed, the 25-year-old could very well become the face of ten Hag’s new-look team next season in Manchester, after failing to recreate the same level of performances expected from the player in Spain during his time in the Netherlands.
