Erik ten Hag handed huge boost as Frenkie de Jong deal is 90% completed

Manchester United’s priority this summer is to strengthen the midfield, with several senior departures in that area leaving Erik ten Hag light in the middle.

Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard have all left the club this summer and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been identified as the club’s prime target.

United have been locked in negotiations with Barcelona over the 25-year-old and now, it finally looks like the Old Trafford club are getting their man.

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According to the Daily Mail, United’s deal to sign the highly-rated midfielder is nearing completion, with only the finer details left to iron out before his arrival can be confirmed. Furthermore, a deal is said to be so advanced that 90% of it has been completed.

It’s understood that United will pay an initial £55m for De Jong, with add-ons potentially taking the deal to £70m. A full agreement has not been reached yet but there is growing optimism that it could happen as early as this week.

Personal terms are not believed to have been agreed upon either but that is not expected to be an issue, with the player said to be open to joining United.

SN’s verdict…
United will be desperate for this drawn-out saga to end as soon as possible. Ten Hag’s first pre-season is already underway and players who took part in international fixtures earlier this month are due back at their clubs in approximately ten days.

De Jong would be part of that group and having him on the plane to Thailand on July 8 would be a massive boost for Ten Hag, who is expected to drill his players during the tour of Asia.

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