Fabrizio Romano has dropped an exciting Manchester United transfer update that will please Erik ten Hag.
What’s the word?
The update is regarding the club’s interest in Barcelona player Frenkie de Jong with Romano tweeting on Sunday evening:
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“Manchester United are discussing internally about submitting a new proposal for Frenkie de Jong in the next days. It’s a serious possibility, while talks with Barça are still on. Deal will enter into key stages after €60m [& add-ons] verbal, opening bid turned down.”
Ten Hag surely excited
The Dutchman faces an important summer transfer window ahead if he aims to take the club back to the heights seen under Sir Alex Ferguson.
It's clear that quality is required in the midfield area, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, and Jesse Lingard all having left United in the last few weeks.
Far too often last season the side were overrun in the midfield, with the 4-1 and 4-0 losses to Watford and Brighton particularly galling.
With this is mind, Ten Hag will be desperate to add De Jong to his squad ahead of next season, and with the qualities that the 25-year-old possesses, the move is a no-brainer.
Compared to positional peers in the top five leagues, De Jong ranks in the top 8% for completed passes (90.1%), the top 6% for progressive carries (7.08 per match), and the top 9% for touches in the opposition box (2.74 per match).
These stats show that Ten Hag would get a midfielder who can add that star quality into the heart of the midfield and contribute positively in an attacking sense, further backed up by his four goals and five assists in all competitions last season.
With Romano stating that a deal won't begin until the fee has reached over the €60m mark (£51.6m), Ten Hag will need to act fast, and if he secures his services, it would be an extremely shrewd signing.