Ken RussoAccording to Mundo Deportivo, Manchester United are still interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and they have made enquiries this summer as well.
United had tried to land the Dutch midfielder last summer but the player rejected a move to Old Trafford because he wanted to keep playing in the Champions League with FC Barcelona.
Everyone thought after Casemiro’s signing, Manchester United have given up their pursuit of the 26-year-old but MD is claiming that the EPL side made an enquiry regarding Frenkie de Jong this summer as well but Barca have made it clear that he is not up for sale.
It’s no secret that United boss Erik ten Hag is an admirer of FDJ and ever since he has taken charge at the club, the Dutch manager has wished to build his midfield around Frenkie de Jong. Unfortunately, for the United fans, it seems like this deal is never going to see the light of day because last year the player rejected a move and this time, FCB don’t want to sell him(to United).
Thankfully, Manchester United have gone out and signed Mason Mount from Chelsea and the England international is more than capable of playing in a central role. The hunt for a proper defensive midfielder is still on but because Mount is an attack-minded and creative central midfielder, we doubt if ETH will go back for De Jong any time soon.
Will Frenkie de Jong remain in Barcelona or can MCFC sign him?
Barcelona manager Xavi is clearly viewing De Jong as an important member of his squad but apart from Manchester United, Man City are also interested in the midfielder and it might be hard to fend off the reigning European champions.
Barca are eager to sign City’s Bernardo Silva and even the midfielder wants to play for the Camp Nou outfit as he is looking for a fresh challenge next season. As per some reports, City are planning to offer a swap deal which will see Silva head to Spain and Frenkie de Jong move to Manchester.
MCFC value Bernardo Silva at around £70 million and as per TransferMarkt, De Jong’s current market valuation is around £65 million so a straight swap is very much possible. Pep Guardiola is not ready to let go of a player like Silva but in the end, if he has to send him out then the City boss will want an apt replacement like De Jong.
Barcelona will have to balance their books in order to avoid breaching FFP rules and getting Frenkie de Jong off their books could be a massive help. The midfielder is slated to receive £21 million in the form salary next year and slashing such a massive amount from their wage bills will go a long way in helping Barcelona become more financially stable.
The Spanish side have brought in Ilkay Gundogan already and the former Man City man can play in the same role as De Jong so even if Barcelona do decide to sell the midfielder it won’t be the end of the world for them. Silva is a world-class player who can play in central and attacking midfield plus last season, he operated as a winger for Manchester City.
As far as Frenkie de Jong is concerned, he clearly wants to keep playing at the top level and right now, no team is better than Manchester City. They have just ended the season with a domestic treble and with Gundogan gone, Silva possibly leaving and Kalvin Phillips useless to Guardiola, the former Ajax midfielder can come straight into the starting XI, without much competition.
