Man Utd have reportedly submitted a bid for Barcelona defender Frenkie de Jong ahead of next seasonMan Utd have reportedly submitted a bid for Barcelona defender Frenkie de Jong ahead of next season
Man Utd have reportedly submitted a bid for Barcelona defender Frenkie de Jong ahead of next season | Getty Images
Manchester United have reportedly made an early offer as they look to get a head-start with their summer transfer plans
Manchester United’s ability to attract top players in the summer could hinge on their success in the Europa League this season. Ruben Amorim’s side are all-but out of contention for a European spot in the Premier League but know that winning the Europa League will earn them a place in the Champions League next campaign.
“We have a clear plan to address next season. Of course, we have Europa League also and you can reach Champions League. We never know. It’s far from this moment, but it can change, we never know, the preparation for next season. We have a plan, we know what to do,” Amorim said of transfer plans for next season in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
Qualification for the Champions League will provide the Red Devils with a revenue boost while it would make it easier to convince players to join Amorim’s project if Champions League football is on offer.
Barcelona respond as Man Utd make offer
Reports in Spain from Fijaches have claimed that the Red Devils have submitted a £57.8m (€65m) bid for Barcelona defender Frenkie de Jong. However, the La Liga club have knocked back the reported proposal that has come well ahead of the transfer window.
De Jong only has one more year remaining on his deal at the Camp Nou come the end of the season but the report from Fijaches adds that the club are keen for him to renew his deal and their priority is to extend his contract rather than selling him this summer. It is noted that if De Jong and Barca cannot come to an agreement on a new deal, then the club may be forced to reconsider their stance on selling him.
De Jong has been targeted by United in the past but that interest has not materialised into a transfer to Old Trafford. They did have a fee agreed back in the summer of 2022 but De Jong rejected the chance to join the Red Devils. Barca were facing numerous financial issues at the time.
"I always wanted to stay at Barcelona and this is why I always remained calm in the summer," De Jong would go on to say in the autumn of 2022. "I can't give too many details. Barca have their own ideas and I have mine and sometimes they clash. But in the end, things went well.”
Do United need another centre back?
Amorim currently has Victor Lindelof, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Jonny Evans and Ayden Heaven as his central defensive options. The ex-Sporting CP coach plays with a system of three central defenders so will need more players in that position.
Lindelof and Evans are both set to leave the club at the end of the season as their respective contracts come to an end. Martinez is also facing a lengthy period out with injury while Yoro and Heaven, in particular, are only in the early stages of their careers and would benefit from playing alongside players with many more games under their belt. Maguire is also injured but is expected to be back for United this weekend.
In other news, an agent of Manchester United 'target' was 'spotted' at West Ham v Newcastle on Monday night.
Related topics:Europa LeagueRuben AmorimChampions League
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