Fabrizio Romano confirms Man Utd are working hard to secure ‘statement’ signing

Manchester United are in for yet another busy summer, with Erik ten Hag’s revolution at the club well underway. Six departures have already been confirmed, with Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani and Lee Grant all leaving on free transfers.

A midfielder is high on United’s wishlist and Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong has been linked more than others, with the 25-year-old possibly becoming the latest victim of the Catalan club’s economic issues.

Last summer, La Liga regulations forced their hand into letting club legend Lionel Messi go and there have been suggestions that the sale of De Jong could be needed to fund reinforcements as Xavi Hernandez aims to turn the club around.

Journalist and transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has provided another update on the situation, insisting that United and Ten Hag are working hard to sign De Jong, with the arrival seen as a ‘statement’.

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“Man United are working hard to try and sign Frenkie de Jong. Erik ten Hag considers him more than a great midfielder, almost a “statement” on the part of the club in wanting to start a new era with a player of excellent quality and international level,” Romano write in his CaughtOffside column.

“Barcelona wants an €85m fee to let Frenkie leave this summer, Man United hope to be able to change the player’s mind in more ways: the club’s project to return to the Champions League as early as 2023, the relationship with Ten Hag, who would consider him untouchable in his project, Barcelona’s needs to sell some player to improve their economic situation. It won’t be easy, but Man United have not given up yet.”

SN’s verdict…
Certainly, bringing in De Jong this summer seems like a challenge but the club wouldn’t pursue it if they thought he was out of their reach. Ten Hag identified the midfielder as one of his targets early on and it’s good to see United working to get it done.

De Jong’s desperate need for Champions League football is, however, a stumbling block they need to clear but if the argument that it’s only going to be one year is convincing enough, United will fancy their chances.

More Stories Barcelona Erik ten Hag Fabrizio Romano Frenkie de Jong Manchester United Premier League

32 Comments

  1. United should pull out of any deal for De Jong. He is blinkered by the fact United are not in the Champions League. So United will throw mega money at him and he will only be interested in the money. When will they learn?
    Axel Witzel (Free) and Ibrahim Sangare (£25, million) would be ideal as defensive midfielders and Ruben Neves (£50, million) as a central midfielder – maybe less if Wolves take Fred in part exchange.
    Buy players who will WANT to play for United and not because of a huge wage packet.

    1. No it’s exactly the opposite, just the fact that he wants to stay for champions league football should tell you he’s not all about the money, we need players with an elite mentality and he certainly has one, all the players you mentioned are not as good as de Jong, who can play in any position in the midfield and also CB and has worked with ten hag and Dvb already, I think for £73 million he would be an excellent buy and united fans need to stop thinking about this negatively

    2. I get y’all point and thoughts
      We have all cried and complained about utd
      They are now structured like a football club should be in our history plus a new good coach. I think we all should wait and let these men do their jobs and see first
      Every manager has different quality he wants in a players

    3. True. Why don’t we go for Neves, Kante and Savic. Frankie doesn’t like Manchester United. I see Pogba part II. Kante, Neves, Savic can be the best midfield 3 since fergie left. Then Rashford, Nkunku, Sancho/Greenwood as forwards.

    4. If PSG signed only players who wanted to play but not money it would not be the powerhouse club it is today right?

  2. This culture of dragging player that are not interested in playing for United should stop please, we have not learnt our lessons..di Maria, Sanchez, e.t.c. please better player with nice price are outside there…

  3. We’ve lacked a proper leader of the team for seasons now – its time to make a statement in that respect. Someone who won’t put up with the nonsense allowed by Ole.

  4. Truth be told Man utd need to learn from the mistakes they have undergone…I prefer Neves very hard-working and ready to fight for the club and not money

  5. Whoever responsible for scouting of players at United is useless someone. Too much no brainer signings at United

  6. When man utd will learn there are good players out there go for them please we want change next season ooooo

  7. Pls stop forcing the player that’s not interested,if you force him to come,he will not play well. because he not interested.

  8. Forget De jong just get Neves…he used to the premiership he a good tackler scores goals

  9. If De Jong needs persuading (and of course he will given how far Utd have fallen), he is totally the wrong player. Ignoring the fact you know Utd will eventually have to pay whatever the selling club want – because they always do – but also part of that “persuasion” will be 400k a week in wages plus a bunch of add-ons.
    Utd can’t continue giving out insane contracts and wonder why players have no desire or motivation and there are problems in the dressing room.

    They should be signing standout players from smaller Prem clubs or so-called lesser leagues that have been identified as having the ability, mentality and hunger to take the step up at a bigger club.
    For the money Utd will spend to get De Jong and then force him to play alongside awful players like Fred or McTom, Utd could buy any two of, say, Neves and Bissouma, Tielemans or Ward-Prowse and massively improve their weakest area, which probably cost them a top 4 position last season. The club is run by idiots.

  10. i prefer savic to that lad, i wonder why man utd is insisting to sign de jong to join old trafford yet the dude is not interested.

  11. Exactly I don’t want to talk more we man utd fans we players like de jong Neve and Anthony martial

  12. I think United Issues are more than recruiting new prayers , the entire coaching staff , recruitment team & board needs restructuring , it is not only about prayers , United should promote some matured prayers from its academy & recruit a few that are willing to play for the club, united is too big to plead for prayers to join , actually prayers shld be fighting to join & not the other way round

  13. United is too big to be beging players that is willing to come, we’re are other players that is willing to come not for money like (Neves) is a perfect players to replace de Jong

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