Harry Redknapp: Manchester United target Frenkie de Jong prefers Chelsea transfer
A higher-up at Manchester United has told former Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp that Frenkie de Jong prefers a transfer to Chelsea. The Dutch midfielder supposedly wants a move to the London club.
The Red Devils have been after the former Ajax midfielder. A reunion with Erik ten Hag is being lined up. But it seems a difficult deal with the Blues also in the queue to snap up the 25-year-old.
Redknapp, who led his Portsmouth side to the FA Cup title in 2008, said that De Jong favours a move to Man United’s Premier League rivals. Speaking to The Byline (h/t Express), the 75-year-old disclosed that a person in the Manchester-based club’s hierarchy gave him the information.
“Now it looks like De Jong wants to go to Chelsea.
“I know that for a fact, he wants to go to Chelsea. So Man United are not going to get him, I’ve had that from somebody right at the very, very top at Man United.
“He really wants to go to Chelsea, so if he goes to Chelsea and Man United don’t get him, I don’t know where they are going and if Chelsea get him then he would obviously be a fantastic signing for them.”
If what Redknapp is saying turns out to be accurate, it would mean United have wasted a considerable amount of time and resources. We pinned our hopes on one player. Now we go into the first game of the new campaign short of quality in the middle of the park.
United need quality in the middle
The number six and number eight positions are vulnerable in fans’ opinion. Fred and Scott McTominay aren’t considered good enough by supporters. We also lost Paul Pogba at the end of last season.
United have made one signing pertaining to the engine room. Christina Eriksen has arrived in Manchester on a free transfer. The Denmark international returned to action after a long layoff in the second half of the previous campaign with Brentford.
The 30-year-old put in impressive performances for the Bees. He played mainly in the central-midfield for Thomas Frank’s side. But Eriksen is a natural number 10. Bruno Fernandes has been playing in that role for us over the years.
A pivot and a box-to-box midfielder have been on most United fans’ wishlist. De Jong is adept at playing in both these positions.
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If we’re still not able to get the 25-year-old after this dragged-out saga, it’ll be disappointing. But we need to quickly focus on other alternatives before the transfer window ends in a few weeks.
