Manchester United have just been given a much-needed impetus in their prolonged pursuit of Frenkie de Jong amid huge claims having emerged in Spain.
The former Ajax midfielder is unerringly the No 1 target of Erik ten Hag, one pursued long and hard all summer, but somehow agreeing a deal has proved painfully difficult and the prospective signing is already turning out to be a haranguing, long-drawn out saga.
To begin with, striking a deal with Barcelona presented its own set of problems but finally that was accomplished with his fee set at an initial £55m (€65m). The next enormous problem was in convincing the midfielder himself to sign on the dotted line, yet he was, and still is, so opposed to it that a report on Sunday emerged listing 10 reasons why the midfielder is adamant against signing for United.
De Jong’s commitment to Barcelona was illustrated on Monday morning when he was among the first to report back for pre-season training. However, Barcelona have another agenda entirely and they remain intent on moving him on. As per AS, they are ‘secretly working’ on his sale to the Red Devils.
Furthermore, Mundo Deportivo claims a meeting will be held with De Jong later on Monday to confirm the grim reality. In it, they will officially inform De Jong that they want him gone and they will accept an offer to sell him. Despite Xavi’s liking of the player, the hard truth is that Barcelona simply need the cash and his sale is simply in the club’s best interests.
That will leave De Jong with little choice but to accept a move away. Mundo Deportivo, however, also suggests news of De Jong being officially up for sale could still alert Chelsea into a rival approach.