Manchester United have approached Real Madrid about the possibility of signing midfielder Casemiro.
01.08.2022 - 13:05 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Manchester United are continuing with their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong as their back-up targets are not deemed to be at the same level as the Barcelona midfielder.
Well-placed sources privy to discussions have stressed United are determined to back manager Erik ten Hag, who identified De Jong as the potential fulcrum of the team several months ago.
Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans is admired by United and has entered the last year of his contract but is a markedly different midfielder to De Jong, whose skill set for a midfielder is unique.
Also read: United fans get their message across to Ronaldo on return
After United's friendly defeat to Atletico Madrid in Oslo, a supporter shouted "get Frenkie" as football director John Murtough exited the Ullevaal Stadium and Murtough smiled.
United agreed a fee with Barcelona for De Jong last month and are reluctant to walk away as they are emboldened by Ten Hag's rapport with the player, whom he coached for 18 months at Ajax. United are approaching the 13th week of discussions in their quest to sign De Jong.
Barcelona want to sell De Jong, 25, to meet La Liga's strict salary cap rules as they are unable to register any of their summer signings to play in domestic fixtures. Barca have signed Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde despite debts of £1billion.
De Jong is owed €17m over a wage deferral he agreed to in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and United sources insist that has been the fundamental issue in the last three weeks.
The situation is further complicated by De Jong's preference to stay at Barcelona. Multiple sources in Spain have reiterated he is reluctant to join United.
United have attributed De Jong's public
Manchester United have approached Real Madrid about the possibility of signing midfielder Casemiro.
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Erik ten Hag is being met with resistance from the Manchester United hierarchy amid his interest in signing Hakim Ziyech from Chelsea.
Manchester United are considering a €68million (£57.5m) bid for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Barcelona will reportedly persist in their attempts to sign Bernardo Silva this summer, even if Frenkie de Jong stays at Camp Nou.
Manchester United are frustrated by the inordinate delay to a protracted deal for Frenkie de Jong amid Barcelona's financial issues.
As Chelsea join the race to sign Frenkie De Jong, Manchester United fans will be panicking at the prospect of one of their potential Premier League rivals for the coming season beating them to a big signing.
Joan Laporta says Robert Lewandowski was always a priority target for Barcelona this summer - but also stopped short of saying the Catalans did not move for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Here are your Manchester United morning headlines for Saturday, July 30.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has admitted that Frenkie de Jong could still join Manchester United, although he deemed it unlikely.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has issued a fresh update on Manchester United target Frenkie de Jong's future in Spain.
Manchester United remain two priority targets short in the summer transfer window, with Erik ten Hag intent on adding a midfielder and a forward to his squad.
Manchester United football director John Murtough met the agent of RB Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko last week.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has sent a warning to Barcelona over their handling of Frenkie de Jong.