Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has instructed the club’s board to keep pursuing Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona even if he is not signed before the start of the upcoming Premier League season.
Man United and Barcelona came to an agreement earlier this week under which Man United would pay €75 million (£63.7 million) upfront plus an additional €10 million (£8.5 million) in add-ons for De Jong.
The Dutch international, however, is determined to remain at Barcelona and hasn’t publicly indicated that he would be open to joining the Red Devils.
Despite De Jong’s apparent reluctance to join the Premier League giants this summer, The Guardian reports that Ten Hag has told the club’s CEO Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough to keep trying, even if the player is not signed before their Premier League opener against Brighton on August 7.
Ten Hag views his fellow compatriot as a key part of his plans at Man United, but De Jong has made it clear that he wants to stay at the Catalan club.
Discussion about this post