This summer, Manchester United reportedly hosted Frenkie de Jong’s agent at Carrington. Erik ten Hag is still determined to sign the Barcelona star as the club’s search reaches its 70th day on Wednesday. But the story continues.
Manchester United has been pushing for De Jong’s signing all summer, with Erik ten Hag believing his former Ajax student can improve the club’s progress.
The 25-year-agent, old’s Ali Dursun, has already been entertained at Carrington this summer, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Dursun has informed Barcelona that De Jong does not wish to leave the club.
That is something the midfielder has never shied away from, with the Netherlands international recently declaring the Catalan giants the “greatest club in the world.”
Regardless of what they say publicly, the La Liga club wants to remove De Jong from their payroll.
United believed that the pressure on De Jong at this point would have led the former Ajax star to ‘fold.’
But that hasn’t happened, as the midfielder has instead traveled to the United States with the rest of his Barcelona teammates for a pre-season tour.
According to reports, United insists that the issue of De Jong’s salaries is the key cause for the delay in proceedings.
That is something the midfielder has never shied away from, with the Netherlands international recently declaring the Catalan giants the “greatest club in the world.”
Regardless of what they say publicly, the La Liga club wants to remove De Jong from their payroll.
He is unquestionably United’s main target, but the Red Devils have two other options if a transfer fails to materialize.
One of them is Wolves’ Ruben Neves, who has been a consistent performer in the Premier League.
The issue is that Portugal international may wind up costing even more than De Jong.
That’s because Wolves boss Bruno Lage stated in April that they’d demand a sum of around £100 million to let their prized asset go.
“What I do know is that we have a special player here,” he said at the time.
“What he’s accomplishing this season is fantastic.
“I believe that the style we play allows him to show a greater Ruben and that the way he plays elevates our team to a higher level.”
“When you have that player, the best thing you can do is raise his wage and extend his contract.”
“However, when you have a good player like him in that exact position, who can defend and attack and is a top professional and a terrific personality, the major teams are there with £100 million to buy these kinds of players.”
Youri Tielemans is a second player on United’s radar.
Many expected Leicester’s star to leave the King Power Stadium by now.
He was generally expected to join Arsenal early this summer, but the Gunners look to have other priorities right now.
And if De Jong does not join the club, United may have a chance to strike.
United will not give up on the Netherlands international.
But, with each passing day, the Red Devils’ desire for a deal grows more.
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