Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will wait until the final day of the transfer window to land top midfield target Frenkie de Jong.
Ten Hag has no intention of giving up on his pursuit of the 25-year-old Dutch star, who is involved in a stand-off with Barcelona over £17million in deferred wages. De Jong's public stance is that he wants to stay at the Nou Camp and will fly to the USA on Barca's pre-season tour ahead of their opening game with David Beckham's Inter Miami on Wednesday.
But sources close to the player say that privately he is in constant dialogue with Ten Hag and is willing to join his former Ajax boss at Old Trafford. The midfielder and his tough negotiating agent, Ali Dursan, believe expressing a public wish to join United will weaken their position as they fight Barcelona for payment of the money De Jong is owed.
