Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag aims to secure Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong deal
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expresses his desire to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Spanish source Fichajes reports that Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s manager, is keen on signing Barcelona midfielder De Jong. The Dutchman aims to reunite with his former Ajax pupil to address the midfield issues currently plaguing United this season.
In June 2019, Barcelona acquired De Jong from Ten Hag’s Ajax for £65m, choosing to play for the Catalan giants despite interest from other top clubs. De Jong, 26, has since made 188 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 16 goals and providing 21 assists.
De Jong gained worldwide recognition during the 2018-19 season under the current United manager, Ten Hag, leading Ajax to a domestic double and a Champions League semi-final.
Known for his exceptional passing range and natural dribbling abilities, the Dutch midfielder excels in dictating play for his team and fulfilling defensive duties.
His precise positioning and ability to make tackles to regain possession are noteworthy, and he can play various midfield roles, occasionally slotting into central defense.
Manchester United is grappling with form issues at the start of the current season, having lost three out of five Premier League matches. The midfield’s inability to regain possession and halt opposing attacks has been a glaring weakness.
Ten Hag has brought Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina on a season-long loan in an effort to rectify the midfield problem. If Amrabat fails to deliver, United may have no choice but to explore the transfer market.
Ten Hag has already signed several former Ajax players, including Antony, Lisandro Martinez, and André Onana. Antony and Onana are yet to fully establish themselves, while Martinez’s performance has drawn mixed assessments from United fans.
More Manchester United News
- Former Premier League referee Mike Dean clarified why Rasmus Højlund’s goal didn’t stand
- Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen praises “hard-working” Hannibal Mejbri amidst defeat
- Manchester United are linked with a shock move for Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry
Securing De Jong would be a significant coup for United, considering he is in the prime years of his career. While luring him from Barcelona presents challenges, it’s a strategy that holds immense potential.
