da dobrowin： Manchester United have suffered a potentially significant setback in their pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong as the January transfer window approaches.
What’s the story?
da esport bet： It was recently reported by Spanish outlet El Nacional (as relayed by the Daily Star), that the Red Devils are interested in securing the highly-rated 24-year-old’s services.
The report claimed that De Jong perfectly fits the profile of the type of player their new interim manager Ralf Rangnick likes to work with and that the club’s chiefs are willing to offer £47m in order to secure his signature.
However, according to well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Dutch international is unlikely to move to Old Trafford over the winter, although he’s not short of potential suitors.
He tweeted: “No negotiations for Frenkie de Jong to Man United in January, as things stand. #FCB #MUFC De Jong father told AD: “Bayern or United? I know Barça need money and a great offer could help, but I don’t see that happening. However, 5 best clubs in Europe have called for him.”
Man Utd fans will be gutted
With Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all out of contract at United next summer, Rangnick may be forced to strengthen his engine room options over the next couple of transfer windows.
And De Jong could have been the ideal candidate to refresh the 20-time English champions’ midfield, meaning the club’s supports will be left feeling gutted at Romano’s latest revelation.
After rising through the ranks at boyhood club Ajax, the technically gifted star soon established himself as one of European football’s most exciting and promising talents.
De Jong scored five goals and provided 13 assists in 89 appearances for the capital club, claiming a domestic double in 2018/19 while playing a pivotal part in their run to the Champions League semi-finals.
A £65m move to Barca followed at the end of that fruitful campaign, and despite the Blaugrana’s struggles both on and off the pitch, the Dutchman has continued to thrive.
In 112 outings for the Catalan giants, De Jong has produced 24 goal contributions, winning the Copa del Rey in the process to add to his already impressive trophy collection.
But it seems as though a move to the red half of Manchester is off the cards for now, leaving Rangnick to explore alternative transfer targets in January as he aims to bolster his first-team squad at United. He and the Old Trafford faithful will surely be frustrated as a result.
And, in other news…Rangnick keen on signing “spectacular” £22.5m-rated gem, he’d be “exceptional” at MUFC