Man Utd could hand Ruben Amorim an Erik ten Hag target. (Image: GETTY)
Erik ten Hag will increasingly feel like his Manchester United sacking was unjust with every bad result at the start of Ruben Amorim’s reign, most recently Sunday’s 3-0 catastrophe against AFC Bournemouth. And the Red Devils could twist the knife in Ten Hag further by making another attempt to lure Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona.
Amorim could dip into the transfer market as early as January, provided he manages to offload some of the players who don’t fit in his long-term plan.
A midfielder is expected to be on the agenda next year, with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen both 32 and the latter’s contract expiring at the end of the season.
United may reignite their interest in De Jong, who currently seems destined to leave the Nou Camp next summer.
In a recent meeting with the Spanish media, Barcelona president Joan Laporte explained that the club wouldn’t allow any of their players to start next season in the final year of their contract.
According to Relevo, as soon as cash is available, the La Liga giants will move to extend Pedri’s current deal beyond 2026.
However, it’s claimed to be a different situation around De Jong and Ronald Araujo. The latter is yet to make an appearance this season due to a lengthy hamstring injury.
But De Jong’s scenario is said to be different, despite Barcelona’s attempts to renew his contract a few months ago.
Frenkie de Jong’s Barcelona future is uncertain. (Image: Getty)
The report adds that the Blaugrana are seriously considering his future due to his eye-watering £300,000-a-week salary, only inferior to Robert Lewandowski’s.
De Jong has played 13 times under Hansi Flick this season but just two of them were starts as he slumps down the pecking order.
Pressing questions about whether he can challenge Pedri, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Marc Casado and Dani Olmo for a starting berth remain.
The prospect of a contract extension reportedly no longer exists, and given his deal expires in 2026, a sale next summer could be on the cards.
De Jong was Ten Hag’s priority transfer target in the summer of 2022, and United agreed an £85million deal with Barcelona before the Netherlands midfielder turned down a move.
Earlier this year, the former United boss admitted he wanted De Jong as the centrepiece of his team after working together at Ajax.
“Yes, it would have been De Jong and Casemiro playing and complementing each other,” Ten Hag explained in May.
“But in the last decade and in this period, we couldn’t always get the players we wanted. You have to accept that.”
The 27-year-old’s stance on joining United may have softened now he’s closer to the Barca exit door, but Amorim’s plans could differ from Ten Hag’s.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1992178/Man-Utd-transfer-news-Erik-ten-Hag-Ruben-Amorim