According to rumors, Manchester United is willing to walk away from a deal for Frenkie de Jong and has held negotiations with other midfield targets.
New manager Erik ten Hag has made signing former Ajax midfielder De Jong his top summer transfer target, but Barcelona is refusing to accept anything less than £70 million – about the same amount they paid three years ago.
United, on the other hand, are unwilling to spend that much for the 25-year-old, who is valued at closer to £60 million, and the deal might fall apart if a transfer fee cannot be agreed upon.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United are certain that they will not overspend for De Jong, who has been valued at £85 million by Barcelona.
John Murtough, United’s football director, has met with his Barcelona counterparts, but an agreement appears improbable at this time, and the Red Devils are inclined to break off their chase unless Barcelona dramatically lowers their demands.
However, midfield reinforcements remain a top priority for Ten Hag, and the club is prepared to move on to other targets if the De Jong deal falls through.
Alternative targets’ lines of communication have remained open, and United executives have communicated with representatives from numerous potential Plan B choices.
United’s search for a new midfielder, though, is proving particularly difficult, with Barcelona refusing to sell De Jong, Kalvin Phillips refusing to go from Leeds to Old Trafford, and West Ham wanting a Premier League record amount for Declan Rice.
United were also interested in Ryan Gravenberch of Ajax, but the midfielder chose to join Bayern Munich after speaking with Ten Hag about a move to Old Trafford.
The Dutch coach is said to be looking for two new midfielders, one who is more creative and attack-minded and the other who is more defensively aware.
Ten Hag wants to bring in a new central striker, a right winger, a right-back, and a centre-back in addition to bolstering the center of the pitch as he attempts to rebuild the poor team he has inherited.