Manchester United ‘ready to wait until the last day of the transfer window to sign top target Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona’ – as the Dutch star travels to the US for the Barca pre-season tour as he is one reluctant to change
- Manchester United are ready to keep their nerves and wait for Frenkie de Jong’s signing
- Erik ten Hag is reportedly ready to wait until the last day of the transfer window
- Dutch midfielder De Jong is new United manager Ten Hag’s top target this summer
- The 25-year-old is believed to be reluctant to leave Barcelona, who want the sale
- De Jong has traveled to Miami for the Spanish side’s pre-season US tour
Manchester United are willing to wait until the last day of the summer transfer window to sign BarcelonaAccording to reports, Frenkie de Jong.
The Dutch star is the new United manager Eric ten Hag‘s top target as he attempts to overtake his squad after a hugely disappointing season but is publicly reluctant to move to Old Trafford.
And as reported by the SunTen Hag, 52, is not giving up and is ready to last until the last second to sign gifted central midfielder De Jong, who was his “favourite player” when he worked at former club Ajax.
Man United ‘ready to wait until the last day of the transfer window to sign Frenkie de Jong’
He has said he wants to stay at the Nou Camp and has flown to Miami to take part in Barcelona’s pre-season tour of the United States – but privately the 25-year-old central midfielder is reportedly ready to join United
De Jong is locked in a contract hiatus with the cash-strapped Spanish giants who owe him more than £17million in deferred wages, delaying a potential United transfer.
He has openly stated he wants to stay at the Nou Camp and has flown to Miami to take part in Barca’s pre-season tour of the United States – but Sun State sources close to the player said he is in regular contact with Ten Hag and excited to join United.
It is believed that De Jong’s notoriously optimistic agent Ali Dursan believes his client publicly stating his desire to sign for the Red Devils would weaken their bargaining position as they seek to recover money owed them by the club.
So United have continued their pursuit. Club bosses Richard Arnold and John Murtough were in Spain to negotiate a deal with Barca sporting director Jordi Cruyff, football director Mateu Alemany and sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste.
Dutch star De Jong is new United manager Erik ten Hag’s top transfer target (pictured)
The two sides have agreed a fee of £63m up front, which could potentially rise to £71m with surcharges, with Xavi’s team desperate to recoup the money and get the Dutchman’s £320,000-week wages off the books in order to abide by Financial Fair rules of the game.
Barcelona have already unveiled four new players this summer, including the signing of Brazilian Raphinha from Leeds, who agrees The £42.5million arrival of Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski on Saturday.
But in order to register the new acquisitions at LaLiga, they will have to cut their €560m (£477m) wage bill. De Jong’s contract entitles him to €20m (£17m) next season and the club need him to continue.
Although Ten Hag doesn’t want the 25-year-old’s signing to become a summer-long saga, he understands that the wage issue is beyond his control and has told the club to keep pushing for the move.
