Manchester United are accelerating their efforts to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong in the coming weeks, according to reports.
Incoming boss Erik ten Hag has made De Jong one of his main targets this summer, and Barcelona could be forced to sell as they look to generate funds.
It is unclear whether De Jong is convinced by moving to a club without Champions League football, with the 24-year-old repeatedly noting his happiness at the Camp Nou.
However, that will not stop the Red Devils from trying, with TalkSport claiming that the Old Trafford side have ‘accelerated’ their efforts to sign the midfielder.
Man United have ‘accelerated talks’ to sign Barcelona midfielder Frankie de Jong #MUFC
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 3, 2022
De Jong has struggled at times at the Camp Nou since his move from Ajax in 2019, but has still been a mainstay in the midfield of the Catalan club, racking up 30 La Liga appearances this season alone, and having turned out in red and blue a total of 138 times to date.
Should a move go through, it would reunite the midfielder with incoming boss Erik ten Hag, under whom the 24-year-old made his name at Ajax.
(l-r) Frenkie de Jong of Ajax, Ajax coach Erik ten Hag during the Florida Cup 2019 match between Ajax Amsterdam v Sao Paulo FC at Orlando City Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Orlando, United States(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
It would also massively add to the quality in the Red Devils’ midfield, with Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic having now left on free transfers, leaving just Fred and Scott McTominay as options in the middle of the pitch.
Should he join, he would be a brilliant acquisition but the United hierarchy must avoid the hope that he will solve everything, a mistake that they made with Paul Pogba.
Further additions in midfield would still be necessary, not least an out and out defensive midfielder.
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