Manchester United midfield target ‘not as reluctant’ to join after Ten Hag calls
Erik ten Hag’s calls convincing Frenkie De Jong to join Manchester United has reportedly left the Barcelona man ‘not as reluctant’ to make the move.
New United manager Ten Hag is eager to improve his squad after they finished sixth in the Premier League under the guidance of Ralf Rangnick.
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De Jong quickly emerged as a top target given his time with Ten Hag at Ajax, on top of the fact the Red Devils need to strengthen in central midfield.
It was recently reported that United had agreed a fee with Barcelona for the Dutch playmaker, however, he is believed to be against leaving the La Liga giants.
Barca are open to selling due to their financial situation, with €70m being the initial figure rumoured. Despite not being a failure at the Nou Camp, he is not thought to have made the impact everyone at the club expected, hence why a summer sale could come to fruition.
This week, Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness) have had their say on the situation.
The Spanish outlet claim that United are ‘using all their weapons’ to try and convince the midfielder to join.
Frenkie de Jong for Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad:
◉= Most duels won (11)
◉= Most chances created (3)
◉= Most aerial duels won (3)
◉= Most shots (3)
◉ Most tackles won (3)
◉= Most take-ons (2)Putting in a shift. 🏃♂️ pic.twitter.com/QhxdXEhuTM
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 21, 2022
It is repeated that Barca are open to selling him, with the player reluctant to move to Manchester for ‘various reasons’.
However, Ten Hag has ‘made several calls’ to ‘push things along’ and get De Jong on board. The report states that he is still not keen on the move, but is ‘not as reluctant as he initially was’.
Elsewhere, RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku has admitted that Paris is his “home” amid rumours linking him with a move to Old Trafford.
“Paris, I’ve always said it, it’s my home, my heart club,” Nkunku – who scored 30 times in 2021/22 – said. “I don’t close any doors. Everything is possible in football.
“It’s flattering to have the biggest clubs in the world interested in me. But it’s also flattering that Leipzig is doing everything to keep me. We are in June, and I am focused on this gathering [with the French national team].”
