Manchester United could finally be about to close out a long-term negotiation…

What’s the word?

According to the Mirror, the Red Devils are plotting one final attempt to pry Frenkie de Jong from a stubborn Barcelona.

A transfer saga that has dominated the summer could be set to come to a close, as United will reportedly end their pursuit should this last attempt fail.

With Barcelona desperate for any financial boost, they will be hoping the Dutchman accepts the huge wage packet being prepared for him.

Imagine him and Eriksen

At last, this lengthy transfer saga seems set to come to a close, for better or for worse. Whether they get their man or lose out at least Erik ten Hag can finally move on either forming the team around de Jong or finding an alternative.

If this huge financial package is to tempt the Dutchman, the partnership he could strike with other new signing Christian Eriksen could be frightening for the rest of the Premier League.

Both silky and creative forces, the Barcelona midfielder could offer an element of added security, and his press-resistant tendencies suggest that he could break the lines and then feed the Denmark international in dangerous pockets of space.

He ranked in the top 6% for progressive carries per 90, and with a 90.1% pass completion rate, he fits the mould of the perfect midfielder that United have been crying out for.

Reportedly rated at €85m (£71m) by a financially struggling Barcelona, it seems that this particular hurdle has already been surmounted, as United move straight onto wage negotiations.

Dubbed “sensational” by journalist Joel Rabinowitz following his demolition of the Real Madrid midfield as an Ajax player, he knew the big things that were to come.

If this kind of ability was to be placed beside Eriksen, who last season for Brentford averaged a 7.54 SofaScore rating and ranked in the top 1% for assists and shot-creating actions, could make for a perfectly balanced midfield.

If a player like Scott McTominay, or even Lisandro Martinez was to play just behind them as the midfield enforcer, this could quickly become one of the better Premier League midfields.

De Jong and Eriksen are a partnership that just makes sense, and the Red Devils just need to get the deal over the line now, with one last push.

AND, in other news: Man United have “genuine” interest in signing £25m “phenomenon”, forget about de Jong.