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Manchester United are reportedly still actively pursuing a deal for FC Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.
After improving other areas of their squad, the Red Devils have now decided to focus on bolstering their midfield in the final two weeks of the transfer window.
Manuel Ugarte is widely believed to be the main priority for this position with Sander Berge and Sofyan Amrabat seen as back up options should they be unable to work out a deal with Paris Saint-Germain for the Uruguayan.
Although according to Dutch journalist Jack van Gelder, the club continue to pursue a familiar face.
Speaking during a roundtable discussion on Dutch television programme De Oranjezomer, he claimed that the Red Devils were actively pursuing a deal with Barcelona for the deep-lying midfielder.
“There is indeed great interest in Frenkie from Manchester United. Negotiations are ongoing, I understand. In any case, they are working on it.”
The Old Trafford side and De Jong are two names that have been intertwined for three consecutive summers now.
United went to the trouble of agreeing a massive €85 million deal with Barcelona for the midfielder back in 2022 during Erik ten Hag’s first summer with the club.
Unfortunately, he had little interest in swapping Barcelona for Manchester and despite weeks spent chasing the player, he decided to remain at his current club.
There have also been reports this window that United have offered Antony as part of a swap deal to lure the Blaugrana into doing a transfer and they have also reportedly offered €50 million, which has been rejected.
What’s more, there were reports in the Spanish media yesterday that the Dutch midfielder is trying to force an exit from the club owing to the fact he has taken much longer to recover from an ankle injury than initially expected.
With the Dutch revolution that has swept across Old Trafford between signings and coaching additions, it would certainly not come as a surprise if United did have interest in De Jong and Barcelona would be willing sellers as they need to get his humongous wages off the books to have more flexibility to spend in what remains of this summer window.
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