Erik ten Hag wanted to make Frenkie de Jong his first signing as Manchester United manager when the Dutchman was appointed at Old Trafford last year.
Ten Hag worked with De Jong at Ajax for two years, helping mould the Netherlands international into one of the most sought after midfielders in world football. The pair helped Ajax reach their first Champions League semi-final in over two decades in 2019, with De Jong voted as the competition’s best performing player in his position.
It was little wonder, then, that Ten Hag planned to sign De Jong from Barcelona. The Red Devils agreed a £63millon fee with the La Liga side, but the 25-year-old put paid to a reunion as he was unconvinced of a move to United, who had just missed out on Champions League qualification in an underwhelming season which ended with Ralf Rangnick in charge.
United retain an interest in De Jong with the club having designs on strengthening the midfield department this summer. Ten Hag’s side lack quality backup options to Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.
Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice have been pitched as alternative options to De Jong but the club could save millions on a player with a remarkably similar profile to the latter by striking a deal for USA international Taylor Booth.
According to the Daily Mail, Ten Hag is a big admirer of the 21-year-old, who has been making waves for Utrecht in the Eredivisie. Ten Hag played for and coached the club and is believed to still have strong ties there, allowing him to receive regular updates on Booth’s progress.
A product of the Bayern Munich youth system, Booth turned down the offer of a contract extension from the Bundesliga giants last year in search of regular playing time at Utrecht. He has made 26 league appearances this season and won a first senior cap for the USA in March.
A versatile attack-minded central midfielder, Booth has been earning comparisons to De Jong since 2021. “I can play anywhere in the midfield,” he told GOAL in 2019. “I prefer (playing as an) ‘eight’ or ‘ten’ because I like more of an attacking role.
“A free, roaming role, (where) I can always get on the ball. I love to have the ball at my feet, being involved in the game. And I love to be able to dictate the tempo of the game.”
With interest from United and scouts from other English clubs taking notice, Utrecht have slapped a £10million price tag on their prize asset. “I know that there is a lot of interest in players like Booth,” the club’s technical director Jordy Zuidam is quoted as saying.
“If we want to keep the club healthy, we have to make transfers. We aim to (bring in) about 12 million euros. You try to keep these boys, but you have to be realistic. And that will show in the coming (transfer) period.”
Booth could offer United a more affordable option to fix their midfield problem in a move which would surely satisfy both Ten Hag and the club’s prospective new owners. Two takeover bids are on the table with offers from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim.
According to the latest reports, INEOS chief Ratcliffe is set to be named as the Glazers’ preferred bidder imminently, with an announcement to follow in a matter of days.
