Manchester United manager still remains ‘crazy’ about signing Barcelona heavyweight

Despite Frenkie de Jong’s clear rejection last summer and his desire to succeed at Barcelona, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is still ‘crazy’ about the signing of the midfielder, reports Mundo Deportivo.

It is no secret that Ten Hag currently finds himself in uncertain times regarding his future at Manchester United. 

Despite having a contract with the English club, recent results and discontent within the team have sparked rumours that he might depart at the season’s end.

Now, there were whispers linking him to Bayern Munich as a potential replacement for Thomas Tuchel, though this possibility seems to be fading. 

Interestingly, regardless of this, one of Ten Hag’s main objectives is to secure De Jong wherever he goes as he is keen on reuniting with the midfielder he previously coached at Ajax. 

In fact, Ten Hag admitted to attempting to sign De Jong last season, recognizing his value in complementing players like Casemiro in midfield to execute their preferred style of play.

Will De Jong move this summer?

As of today, De Jong remains undecided about his future. Despite receiving a contract renewal offer from Barcelona months ago, he has yet to respond. 

Erik Ten Hag wants to reunite with Frenkie de Jong. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Barcelona are concerned that he may be delaying his decision, potentially hoping to leave for a lower fee or even on a free transfer with a hefty signing bonus once his current deal expires in 2026.

Despite being considered a key player by Xavi, there are murmurs within the club’s management that De Jong’s performances this season have fallen short of expectations. 

Consequently, if a tempting offer comes in, Barcelona may entertain the idea of parting ways with him, especially as their priority this summer is securing a midfielder like Joshua Kimmich, Bernardo Silva or Martin Zubimendi. 

This shift in focus could diminish De Jong’s importance within the squad, particularly considering his high salary. All these factors are taken into consideration as the club navigates its future sporting decisions.