Manchester United are reportedly the frontrunners to sign Frenkie de Jong if he leaves FC Barcelona. Since Erik ten Hag’s arrival in 2022, the club has been consistently linked with Dutch and former Ajax players. This speculation isn’t baseless, as United have signed players like Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Andre Onana, Matthijs De Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui, all of whom previously worked under Ten Hag.
Interestingly, the player most frequently connected to Manchester United, Frenkie de Jong, has yet to make the move. United agreed on a fee with Barcelona in 2022, but De Jong’s reluctance to leave Catalonia stalled the transfer. However, circumstances have shifted, and reports suggest De Jong could be on his way out of Barcelona. According to Fichajes, “Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona’s key midfielder, could be in his final months at the club.”
Barcelona is pressuring De Jong to accept a salary reduction if he wants to remain, and if he refuses, the club is likely to sell him next summer to avoid losing him for free in 2026. Given this situation, Manchester United, who previously attempted to sign him, are now seen as the leading contenders.
De Jong faces a pivotal moment in his career as “his bond with Barcelona is strong, but Manchester United’s interest and Barcelona’s need for strategic decisions could spell the end of his time at the club.” It is anticipated that De Jong could leave in the next summer transfer window.
While United have already invested heavily in midfield under Ten Hag, including the recent signing of Manuel Ugarte, none of the recruits match De Jong’s unique skill set, which Ten Hag sought in 2022. However, two significant hurdles remain: De Jong’s recent injury struggles, having missed 260 days over the last two seasons, and the uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag’s future at United, with the team currently sitting 14th in the league.
