Manchester United are continuing to pursue Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong but the deal is far from straightforward, with the Catalan club staying firm in their high valuation of their prized asset.
In the latest update on the situation, it emerged that the two clubs are now just €10-15m apart in their valuations of the player, with well-placed sources said to believe a transfer will eventually get done. The 25-year-old has refrained from getting involved in the saga publically.
Erik ten Hag has made just one media appearance since he was appointed United manager earlier this year and is currently on vacation before meeting his squad on June 27.
Read more: Erik ten Hag to stick with Man Utd duo as first-choice centre-back partnership
According to The Athletic, there are murmurings that Ten Hag is starting to get ‘a little frustrated’ at United’s failure to swiftly complete a deal for De Jong, although there is an understanding of the club’s limited budget.
SN’s verdict…
Manchester United fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the neverending transfer sagas, with each big move seemingly paired with a prolonged period of rumours.
The Jadon Sancho saga, which ended last summer when United signed him from Borussia Dortmund, lasted nearly two years whilst Raphael Varane’s transfer was also drawn out. The Frenchman, who was unveiled on the Old Trafford pitch moments before the Premier League curtain-raiser against Leeds, was seen as a fairly straightforward signing but for United, it was far from that.
Ten Hag can be forgiven for being impatient. The first group of players return from vacation in less than two weeks and although De Jong would fall into the category of players returning later, in July to be specific, getting him through the door at the earliest opportunity is ideal.