Manchester United has reportedly submitted an official bid to acquire Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to the Spanish publication Fichajes.
The Red Devils have maintained a long-standing interest in the Dutch international, particularly after appointing Erik ten Hag as their manager in 2022, which led them to prioritize the acquisition of the midfielder to strengthen their squad.
Previously, they had reached a preliminary agreement with Barcelona; however, the player opted to remain at the club, preventing the transfer from materializing.
Despite this setback, it seems that Manchester United remains determined to secure the 27-year-old, especially with his current contract running until 2026.
Fichajes reports that Manchester United has made a formal offer of £55 million for de Jong, but Barcelona has declined the proposal, as they are unwilling to part with a player who has been integral to Hansi Flick’s starting lineup this season.
De Jong to Man Utd
The Catalan club aims to negotiate a new agreement with the Netherlands international, as they prefer not to let him enter the final year of his existing contract.
Manchester United opted to enhance their midfield by acquiring Manuel Ugarte last summer. However, Casemiro has faced ongoing challenges in the Premier League, leading to reports that Ruben Amorim’s team is prepared to sell him.
Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen is approaching the final months of his current contract and is expected to depart the club as a free agent at the conclusion of this season.
Bruno Fernandes has been operating in a deeper role this season, although he is more suited to an attacking midfield position. Conversely, Kobbie Mainoo has struggled to gain Amorim’s trust and has been rumored to be considering a move away from the club in recent months.
Consequently, reinforcing the midfield would be a prudent strategy for United in the upcoming transfer window, and acquiring De Jong would represent a significant achievement if they were to secure his services.
Nevertheless, it seems that Manchester United may face challenges in re-signing De Jong, and it remains uncertain who they will target to strengthen their midfield this summer.
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