Manchester United continue to pursue Barcelona playmaker Frenkie de Jong as a potential solution to their long-term midfield woes - but his past comments about a reunion with Netherlands teammate Matthijs de Ligt should raise concerns with their mentor and former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.
Products of the famed Ajax system, De Jong and De Ligt were instrumental figures when the Amsterdam side put themselves back on the European map with a run to the Champions League semis in 2019. Barcelona and Juventus came calling for them, respectively, the following summer.
Fast forward three years and United have identified De Jong as their priority target. However, getting that transfer over the line has been anything but plain-sailing. However, ex-colleague De Ligt is preparing for another adventure after Bayern Munich confirmed he will head to Germany in a £68million switch from Juventus.
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As part of their rebuild, United set sights on a new centre-back and have, ultimately, welcomed Lisandro Martinez to the club. However, before agreeing terms with Ajax over his signature, they were tipped to revive interest in De Ligt and team him back up with De Jong - under Ten Hag as manager.
That is no longer a possibility for the time being in these parts. Amid suggestions De Jong would prefer a move to Chelsea or Bayern this summer, though, United might not look back too favourably at comments made by the duo when addressing future plans in 2019.
Before his transfer to Juventus when United were interested in him, centre-back De Ligt said: "I voted for Frenkie [in Ajax's Player of the Year]. I think he has developed very well this year. He deserves the move to Barcelona. Will I play with him there? It would be nice to play with Frenkie in a team, but I don't know if it will happen."
De Jong added: "I'd like to see him [De Ligt] here... but I cannot decide. He has to make that decision with his family. When I saw that Barcelona wanted me to play here, the decision was easy."
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