Manchester United have needed to upgrade their midfield for a few years now and with the appointment of Erik ten Hag, it can not be ignored for another season if the Dutch manager is to be a success. But who are the club going to sign in a window where many of their rivals also need midfielders?
The Manchester Evening News understands that one player that United are interested in is Frenkie de Jong. The Barcelona midfielder could be available for £75m and given his club's financial difficulties, De Jong could be sold to make way for new signings and to balance their wage books.
De Jong played under Ten Hag at Ajax and it seems that the new United manager is keen to be reunited with him at Old Trafford. However, De Jong has stated that Barcelona is his 'dream' club and he is reluctant to leave, as he made clear in a recent interview while on international duty with the Netherlands.
READ MORE: Erik ten Hag can finally correct Manchester United midfield in transfer window
De Jong said to Dutch media outlet AD.nl: "Of course I hear about the links to Manchester United, but the people in charge of the club (Barça) didn't tell me anything. So then I will assume that there is no agreement, and that nothing is going on. So then I won't worry about it too.
"I did talk with Xavi about next season, but that was just about football, about the squad and what is needed to improve. I understand that [my sale could help the team]. But the club didn't tell me anything. They didn't propose anything to me, so I am assuming that nothing is going on.
"I have never felt regret regarding choosing Barcelona, definitely not. Barcelona is the club of my dreams, it has been since I was a kid."
United fans reading these comments have felt uneasy. Of course, De Jong is a fantastic player who Ten Hag admires, but given that he doesn't want to leave, there are worried that he could be another unmotivated player who is just at the club to collect his wages, with some comparing the situation to that of Angel Di Maria at United.
They let their thoughts be known on social media with quite a few fans suggesting that if United are unable to convince De Jong fully, they should let the transfer go. These are a selection of comments from Twitter:
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
