Since Erik ten Hag became Manchester United’s manager in the summer of 2022, a notable pattern in their transfer activity has been the acquisition of ten players who have played in the Eredivisie at some point. This includes five players who have also been under Ten Hag’s management at Ajax and Utrecht, such as Sofyan Amrabat.
Despite the frequent jokes from fans, neutrals, and pundits, this trend is undeniable. Ten Hag has a clear preference for signing players who are either familiar to him or have experience in the Dutch top division.
At the renowned Dutch club, Ten Hag’s squad included five players who are now with Manchester United. In his first season as manager, Ten Hag signed Lisandro Martinez and Antony, and the following summer, he brought in Andre Onana as his long-term goalkeeper. Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui are also expected to join United, reuniting with their former teammates and manager.
Additionally, a sixth player has recently been linked to Manchester United and could be added to the squad before the August 30 transfer deadline.
The midfielder in question is Frenkie de Jong, who plays for Barcelona and the Netherlands national team. Despite rumors of his departure from Barcelona over the past few summers, the former Ajax star, who graduated from the esteemed Amsterdam academy, remains a key target.
Manchester United is reportedly planning to renew their pursuit of De Jong this summer and has made an offer of £42.6 million, according to Spanish reports cited by TeamTalk. This follows ongoing speculation from the past two summers about Erik ten Hag’s interest in signing his former midfield player.
Barcelona is rumored to have rejected Manchester United’s initial offer for Frenkie de Jong and is now holding out for a higher bid. United might respond with a new offer of £59.7 million plus £12.8 million in add-ons to convince Barcelona to release the 27-year-old, whom they acquired for £65 million in 2019.
Despite a challenging 2023–2024 season plagued by injuries—missing 28 games for both club and country and being unable to compete in Euro 2024—De Jong remains a valuable target. Last season, he made 30 appearances for Barcelona, scoring two goals in La Liga, and surprisingly accumulated ten yellow cards, with seven coming from just 20 games in Spain’s top division.
If De Jong joins Manchester United this summer, he could be an ideal replacement for Sander Berge and Manuel Ugarte. United is also considering two other midfielders, but negotiations for these deals have not progressed significantly.
The Red Devils’ interest in De Jong, rather than the midfielders from Burnley and PSG, might be surprising. Unlike Berge and Ugarte—both primarily defensive midfielders known for their off-ball work—De Jong excels with the ball at his feet. He is an exceptional ball handler and a skilled forward passer who can effectively break through opposing defenses. In contrast, Burnley’s Berge is a defensive midfielder focused on disrupting play and regaining possession, while PSG’s Ugarte is an aggressive ball winner, often compared to N’Golo Kanté.
The statistics on FBref highlight the distinct strengths of each midfielder. In defensive metrics, Ugarte leads with 6.42 tackles and interceptions per ninety minutes, while Berge averages 2.96, and De Jong is in between with 3.13.
In ball recoveries, Ugarte again tops the list with 8.42, followed by De Jong at 6.43, and Berge at 6.05.
However, De Jong’s prowess with the ball is evident in other statistics. He averages 3.79 progressive carries per game, significantly higher than Ugarte’s 0.74 and Berge’s 1.92. Additionally, De Jong leads in advanced passing with an average of 9.32, compared to Ugarte’s 4.05 and Berge’s 4.91.
Given the statistics, it’s interesting that football commentator Ben Mattinson referred to De Jong as a “progressive monster” for Manchester United. While De Jong excels in possession, his defensive capabilities should not be underestimated.
Although Ten Hag’s desire to reunite with De Jong has been clear since he began managing United two summers ago, the club’s full motivations for pursuing him are less clear. Ten Hag has been in search of a dedicated ball-winner throughout the summer.
De Jong would undoubtedly enhance United’s midfield play with the ball, but closing the deal could require over £70 million. While his profile may not perfectly match the ideal ball-winner United seeks, his exceptional skills in possession are undeniable, and it would be exciting to see him don the iconic red shirt.