In a recent report, The Guardian mentioned that Manchester United have reignited their interest in Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. It has been claimed that the Red Devils could move in for the Dutch playmaker later this year after they failed to land him last summer.
De Jong’s Impressive Run Of Form At The Nou Camp This Season
De Jong has been a consistent performer at the Catalan club during this campaign after putting in a series of influential displays at the centre of Xavi’s midfield. The 25-year-old has participated in 31 matches for Barca during this campaign, finding the back of the net twice and picking up one assist across all competitions.
The Arkel-born talent has been a positive influence at both ends of the field based on his average of 1.4 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 0.7 clearances, 0.6 shots, 1.1 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per 90 minutes in La Liga. He has even been accurate when distributing the ball from midfield after making 90.5% of his attempted passes in the top tier of Spanish football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at Barcelona is set to run out in the summer of 2026. Thus, the Red Devils will have to make a big offer if they want to convince the Catalan club to sanction the Dutch sensation’s exit at the end of this season.
Is De Jong A Good Fit For Manchester United Boss Erik Ten Hag?
De Jong is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his side at the centre of the park. He can offer decent protection for his teammates at the back and is a decent passer of the ball as well.
The Netherlands international can even strike the ball with venom and precision from long range and is also proficient at making some intelligent runs from midfield. However, only time will tell if he can make a smooth transition to life in Premier League football.
At the moment, de Jong is playing some of the best football of his playing career. Thus, he will be a good fit for Man United boss Erik ten Hag’s brand of football at Old Trafford. We can expect de Jong to offer some healthy competition for Casemiro and Fred for a regular starting spot at the Mancunian club in the coming seasons.
With all things considered, the Red Devils should think about going all out to secure de Jong’s services in the summer as he could help them compete for even more trophies over the next few years.
