Frenkie De Jong’s former coach has touted the Barcelona midfielder to be his dream signing for Manchester United and explained why it could happen
14:04, 15 Jan 2026
Frenkie de Jong
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Frenkie de Jong has been touted for a Manchester United transfer(Image: Getty Images)
Frenkie De Jong has been touted as Jaap Stam’s dream signing for Manchester United.
United started their search for a new midfield arrival in the summer under Ruben Amorim, and it seems that demand for a new addition in the engine room is a more pressing issue now that Michael Carrick’s system will likely use another midfielder instead of three centre-backs.
The Red Devils were linked with a move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba last summer but his £100million price tag put the club off making a late move for him.
Frenkie de Jong
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Frenkie de Jong has been a long-term target for Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
While it’s unlikely January will bring significant arrivals, United will address the midfield issue in the summer, and former centre-back Stam has identified one of his Ajax proteges De Jong as the ideal target despite him signing a new contract with Barcelona in October until 2029.
Speaking to the Covers.com World Cup betting team, Stam said: “My dream signing for Manchester United in the January transfer window would be Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona.
“United should always be looking at players who can make them play better football, and Frenkie has been on the club’s shortlist ever since Erik ten Hag was in charge.
Jaap Stam
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Jaap Stam coached Frenkie De Jong at Ajax(Image: (Image: Getty))
“I’ve worked with Frenkie a lot when he was a youngster at Ajax and he really is someone who can make a team play better football.
“He’s so comfortable on the ball and he’s got the legs to run up and down the pitch. He’s creative and he finds the right passes when he’s on the ball, which is something that United need at the moment.
United were heavily linked with De Jong during Erik ten Hag’s tenure at the club, but the Dutchman was unable to convince his former player to move to Old Trafford amid Barcelona’s crippling financial issues when a deal looked most likely to be done.
The 28-year-old joined Barca in 2019 from Ajax and has racked up 282 appearances for the Catalan club. However, his place in the squad was far from cemented after his sending off against Celta Vigo in November, having to wait almost two months before returning to the starting line-up in La Liga, where he also won back the captain’s armband.
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Stam added that if De Jong is unattainable, United should turn their attention back to Brighton’s Baleba. "Elsewhere, Carlos Baleba from Brighton is a very good player and he could do well at Old Trafford,” he continued.
“I’m always looking at the United’s system and how I want them to play, and I believe they would become a better team with Baleba and De Jong in there.”