Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong laughed at rumours linking him with a move to Manchester United after the Netherlands’ 2-2 draw with Poland but refused to address the situation in any great detail.
De Jong is thought to be one of United’s top transfer targets and the club are reportedly preparing a second bid for the 25-year-old after having their first bid of €80m rejected.
He has worked with United’s new manager, Erik ten Hag, at Ajax, and could well be the first signing of Ten Hag’s reign at Old Trafford as Barcelona look to sell the player in order to ease the club’s financial issues.
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After the draw against Poland in the Nations League, De Jong was asked by an interviewer if he was prepared to swap the beaches of Catalunya for the cold of Manchester. The Dutch international laughed at the question before replying: “No…I can’t say anything.”
Former Liverpool midfielder Stan Collymore has described United’s pursuit of De Jong as “underwhelming”, claiming he could be the new Donny van de Beek.
“Manchester United ’s pursuit of Frenkie De Jong is completely underwhelming,” he told the Mirror.
“Don’t get me wrong, he is a good player, he has all the attributes and would be a decent addition to the squad. But I ask myself if he’s someone who will take United to the next level and the answer, frankly, is, ‘No’. Actually, he reminds me of his compatriot Donny van de Beek.
“Ajax produced a full-page farewell to Van de Beek when he joined United, saying ‘Look after him’. And Edwin van der Sar, a legend at both Ajax and United, was raving about him. Yet it didn’t happen for him at Old Trafford and I’m not sure it will for De Jong.
“I know Van de Beek didn’t get the opportunities he deserved at United and De Jong will be given a chance by Erik ten Hag. But if I’m at Liverpool or Manchester City, then I’m certainly not going to be worrying that Manchester United look likely to sign Frenkie de Jong this summer.”
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