Manchester United wasted months pursuing a deal for Frenkie de Jong in the summer - and it appears as though Erik ten Hag is plotting to rekindle his interest in the Barcelona playmaker in the winter transfer window.
Strengthening United's midfield ranks was a priority for Ten Hag, who was handed the top job at Old Trafford earlier this year. De Jong - who flourished under Ten Hag at Ajax - was the Dutchman's priority target; but after he made it clear that he was reluctant to leave the Nou Camp, Ten Hag and the club were forced to look elsewhere.
United eventually acquired Casemiro in a £60million deal from Real Madrid to bolster their midfield options in a move that appeared to end their interest in De Jong - but that no longer appears to be the case.
A fresh report from Sport has claimed that Ten Hag will once again try to persuade De Jong to join him at Old Trafford, with the outlet revealing there is 'no doubt' that Manchester United will press ahead with their latest attempt to prise the midfielder away from Barcelona as Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are filling different roles to the one that De Jong had been earmarked for.
The publication even believes it could be easier to lure De Jong to Old Trafford due to a lack of regular minutes at the Nou Camp, where he has started just five games so far this term. And although it has been claimed that De Jong's current priority is to stay in Spain, it is believed that the Dutchman's stance could soften next summer if he receives an offer that is both sportingly and financially lucrative.
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But if Manchester United do decide to rekindle their interest in De Jong, then they run the risk of being embarrassed for a second time by the playmaker, who could decide that he still has no desire to reunite with Ten Hag in the Premier League. United struck an agreement with Barcelona to sign De Jong in the summer, but the deal stalled as the midfielder was unwilling to consider joining a club who were unable to offer Champions League football.
As such, United's hopes of convincing De Jong to join them in the future is likely to hinge heavily on their current Premier League campaign; it's highly unlikely that the 25-year-old would change his mind over a move if Manchester United fail to qualify for Europe's elite competition again.
Sport claimed earlier this month in a separate report that Manchester United had 'maintained contact' with De Jong, who has been left 'disgusted' by his diminished role under Xavi Hernandez, who had previously insisted that the former Ajax man would be a key part of his plans for the new LaLiga campaign.
