Manchester United are “open” to making a second bid for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong according to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News.
United spent the most of last summer trying to sign de Jong from Barcelona, who agreed a fee with Manchester United to sign the Dutchman but the deal was complex because of the financial accord between de Jong and the La Liga outfit, as well as the player reiterating his desire to stay in Spain [The Athletic].
However, in the MEN, Luckhurst says that privately de Jong has given the Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag his blessing to join the club , even though publicly he maintained his desire to stay at Barcelona [Manchester Evening News]. The fact that he has privately said he would be satisfied with joining United, might give the club motivation to try and sign him again in the summer of 2023.
#mufc open to making second moves for Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellinghamhttps://t.co/hDYyKrJP22
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 17, 2022
If United do sign de Jong then it would be seen as a game changer because currently United do not have a midfielder who is press resistant, whilst also having the ability to take the ball in the most difficult situation.
Even though ten Hag has deployed a midfield two of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro this season, the signing of de Jong would allow the manager to play his preferred 4-3-3 formation, with de Jong and potentially Eriksen as the number eights.
De Jong was with the Netherlands at the World Cup this month and he started all five of the Netherlands’ matches at the finals, scoring one goal and registering one assist [Transfermarkt].
The Dutch midfielder will actually visit Old Trafford in February when United host Barcelona in the UEFA Europa League at the Round of 32 stage.
Perhaps, that meeting with United at the Theatre of Dreams, could show de Jong what a buzz he would get from playing at Old Trafford on a weekly basis.
