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De Jong quizzed on Man Utd transfer links
Manchester United have been in touch with other midfielders at a time where they’re struggling to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona, it has been claimed. The 25-year-old is Erik ten Hag’s top transfer target. However, a deal for the Netherlands international remains up in the air despite a fee being agreed.
Manchester United and Barcelona agreed a fee for De Jong earlier this month, with the Red Devils prepared to pay an initial £63million to land the midfielder.
But with the player owed money at the Nou Camp, and reluctant to leave, the Red Devils are being forced to bide their time.
United would love to sign De Jong and, so far, have been putting all their resources into a deal.
Yet ESPN journalist Rob Dawson, speaking on The United Stand, has claimed the Red Devils have been in touch with other midfielders as the saga drags on.
"There are certainly other players on the list, but I get the impression that, for ten Hag, de Jong is such the ideal player that they want to do everything they possibly can to get that deal over the line,” he said.
"There may be a case of where Barcelona aren't playing ball, or de Jong says he doesn't want to come. He'll [Erik ten Hag] then have to decide if he's got a player in the squad, or if he needs to sign someone.
Man Utd are still pushing ahead with Frenkie de Jong transfer plans (Image: GETTY)
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"He's [Erik ten Hag] come in, and set such high standards on the training pitch, with the way the club is run, his transfer targets, that he wants his number one [Frenkie de Jong].
"The danger is [with Frenkie de Jong] that there's only a finite amount of time to get it done, as the deadline is quickly approaching. At what point do you pull the plug?
"I'm sure they have [been in contact with other midfielders]. I'm not suggesting they have a deal in place, but there will have been contact.
"They'll know whether the player [other midfield targets] wants to come, they'll know, vaguely, what the valuation is, what it'll take to get a deal over the line. They'll have all that information."
Three midfielders have been linked with United amid their issues when it comes to snapping up De Jong.
