Heading into Thursday, De Jong has played 90 minutes in each of Barca's past five games, and United -- Ten Hag especially -- won't need any reminders of the threat he carries. -- MarsdenWill Man United try again this coming summer? United's priority heading into the summer transfer window is to sign a high-level striker, but Ten Hag's stance on De Jong is that the door "isn't closed. "From United's point of view, much will depend on Barcelona's financial situation and whether De Jong wants to move to Old Trafford, but Ten Hag still believes that the 25-year-old is one of the best midfielders in the world -- particularly because of his passing ability -- and that he would complement what Ten Hag already has in the squad. It's also possible that both Fred and Scott McTominay could leave, although that's far from certain.
The two clubs made a lot of progress during talks to thrash out a deal, and at one stage, after United football director John Murtough had flown to Spain, had a broad agreement. However, money owed to De Jong by the Spanish side after he agreed to defer wages during the height of the coronavirus pandemic caused a significant problem.
Sources close to United insist they would not have pursued De Jong as strongly if they'd not had encouragement that he was willing to move, although most of the player's public comments on the potential transfer suggest otherwise. When it became clear that De Jong wasn't happening last summer, United turned to Casemiro as their central midfielder, with the Brazil and Real Madrid star arriving in late August for a reported fee of £60m plus add-ons. It has worked out well, with the Brazilian already one of this season's standout players. But despite Casemiro's arrival, United have never fully ruled out reigniting their interest in De Jong, and the club have been led to believe he will be made available again in the summer. Ten Hag's priorities in the transfer market have shifted, and it's likely signing a striker will be his priority ahead of next season, but he has made no secret of his desire to sign De Jong.
play1:35How 'intimidating' Ten Hag is bringing back Man United's fear factorMark Ogden and Luis Miguel Echegaray explain how Erik ten Hag's managerial presence is finally helping Manchester United back to the top. In many ways, De Jong is a modern version of a box-to-box midfielder in Barcelona's setup. There is not much he cannot do, although in an interview with ESPN he spoke about a desire to keep improving. "I think I can improve my long-range passing a lot, " he said. "I can score more goals.
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I don't think it's the most important thing as a midfielder, especially with my style of playing, but I can score more goals. I can improve my long-range shooting, going behind the defence, runs behind the defence. "De Jong's performances should not come as a surprise, either. He was stellar in Ajax's Champions League semifinal run in 2019 and is always the best player for the Netherlands, but after over three years at Camp Nou, questions were being asked. After sticking to his guns and staying last summer, he was a substitute in three of the first four league games this season. It is now unthinkable that he would be left on the bench, unless he's being rested.
In Gavi and Pedri, he has two of the best young midfielders in the world to link with, and as a result he has played a major part in Barca's 16-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Perhaps the best sight of De Jong is him galloping forward with the ball when space opens ahead of him, his opponents unable to keep up, but there are technical details as well. His subtle chipped pass for Robert Lewandowski against Villarreal at the weekend deserved a goal. He's ferocious in Barca's high press and has the energy to get back to defend counter-attacks, too.
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