Erik ten Hag remains convinced Manchester United can win the transfer race for Frenkie de Jong amid claims Chelsea are now firmly in the driving seat for the Barcelona star, a report claims.
New United boss Ten Hag has set his sights on the midfielder as his top summer target. Indeed, he sees his compatriot as the perfect solution after identifying the Red Devils’ midfield as an area of weakness. However, efforts to bring De Jong to Old Trafford have probably proved far more difficult than anyone expected.
After spending several weeks negotiating a fee with Barcelona, the two sides finally found common ground. This deal will see United pay an initial £63m, with add-ons taking the deal over the £72m barrier.
But agreeing a fee for De Jong was only the start of United’s seemingly endless pursuit.
In fact, De Jong himself has come down hard on the potential move. And a report citing 10 reasons why De Jong plans to reject a move to Old Trafford will not have gone down well.
However, United have hung in there and refused to walk away from a potential deal.
And fresh on United’s mind is the fact that Barcelona want De Jong to leave. The issue of his sale is complicated by a deferred salary agreement. To that end, the LaLiga giants still owe De Jong around £14.4m (€17m) in wages.
However, United are so desperate to seal the deal that a report claims they are willing to make up that shortfall.
Be that as it may, and with the clock ticking, it is said that the president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta, has put a deadline on the possible transfer.
That said, those hopes have taken a bit of a nosedive in recent days amid claims that Chelsea are also keen.
Ten Hag urges Man Utd to stay the course on Frenkie de Jong
The Blues are armed with a strong transfer window, with ambitious new owner Todd Boehly ready to make his mark.
And Thomas Tuchel’s side also have the added benefit of being able to offer De Jong Champions League football.
However, according to Sport, Ten Hag is not worried about Chelsea’s interest and is confident of a meeting with De Jong.
They claim, with director of football John Murtough frustrated by the saga and wanting to consider alternatives, that Ten Hag has told him to hold his nerve.
Convinced that Barcelona simply must be sold, he has also told Murtough to see the deal.
And the Manchester United manager believes his strong relationship with De Jong from his Ajax days will ensure a move to United goes through.
It is also claimed that Ten Hag also had a personal phone call with De Jong earlier this week. In the chat, Ten Hag assured De Jong that his interest remains as strong as ever.
Additionally, he is also reported to have spoken to the player about his role with the United States side.
De Jong has dropped down the pecking order at Barcelona, with Pedri, Gavi, Sergio Busquests and Franck Kessie ahead of him.
The player knows he will need regular football to secure his place in the Netherlands World Cup squad, which gives Ten Hag more belief.
United taking a calculated risk on the transfer
The truth is that much of the entire 2022/23 season depends on United being able to get this deal done.
Having put so much time and effort into the deal, the club would look foolish if he moved to Chelsea.
To that end, Ten Hag is banking heavily on his previous relationships with De Jong to approve the deal.
Indeed, much of Ten Hag’s planning has evolved around adding De Jong to their midfield.
He can give United much more balance and control; something they lacked against better opposition last season.
Sitting deep and right in front of the defence, United will hope to be able to set the pace and protect their defense better.
And accurate passer of the ball, Ten Hag knows exactly how to get the best out of the star.
Could a potential transfer for Frenkie De Jong be the key to Manchester United’s centre-back partnership this season?
Would missing out on the signing of Frenkie de Jong for Manchester United mean a different central partnership will be formed than the one Erik ten Hag wants to judge since pre-season?
As such, he will wait a long time and wait for the deal to go through.
The only thing we can say with certainty, however, is that Barcelona must sell. Their constant struggles to balance the books means they have to take Frenkie de Jong off their payroll.
His £140,000-a-week salary will go elsewhere. And the huge transfer fee they are due to receive from United will also help enormously.
Meanwhile, United themselves look set to lighten their load with a move to LaLiga close Alex Telles.