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.
The saga has incensed many United fans, who can't understand why the club are chasing a player who says he wants to stay at Barcelona. But Ten Hag and United's hierarchy know De Jong's strategy – and it's why Chief Executive Richard Arnold and Director of Football John Murtagh were spotted meeting Barcelona officials in Spain last week.
A deal that could reach £71million with add-ons has been agreed in principle with the cash-strapped Spanish giants, who are desperate to off-load players to comply with Financial Fair Play. But De Jong wants the money he's owed before he'll agree to leave, and that's holding up the conclusion of the deal.
Discussions have already taken place over United paying the wages De Jong is owed and reducing the transfer fee accordingly. But complicated tax implications as well as abiding by UEFA and FIFA codes of practice have made that a non-starter. Barcelona boss Xavi is prepared to sacrifice De Jong with Leeds United's Brazilian winger Raphinha arriving at the Nou Camp in a £55million deal and £42.5million Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewondowski set to follow this week.
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The Nou Camp boss has to generate income and trim the wage bill to make room for new stars – with De Jong, who banks £320,000 per week, coming under pressure from Barcelona to leave. Ten Hag told Old Trafford chiefs weeks ago he didn't want a the chase for De Jong to become a protracted transfer saga lasting all summer.
But the wages issue is beyond United's control – and Ten Hag has told negotiators to keep pressing for the deal to happen. The 52-year-old Dutch boss sees De Jong as central to his plans and was the first player he spoke to when he agreed to take over from interim coach Ralf Rangnick.
He's convinced that the Dutch international – his favourite player when he managed Ajax - can help United close the gap on the Premier League's big guns with his ability to dictate midfield tempo. Ten Hag knows it's a gamble to wait until the end of the transfer window to seal De Jong's signature, but he's the outstanding candidate for the role with United – and as yet he's not advised Arnold and Murtough to pursue alternative targets.
