Manchester United are seeking Frenkie de Jong's final answer about whether the midfielder wants to join the club from Barcelona this summer.
The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to the Red Devils since Erik ten Hag was appointed as their new manager earlier this month. The pair worked together at Ajax and helped the club reach the Champions League semi-final during the 2018/19 season.
It is thought De Jong would prefer to stay and fight for his place at Barcelona but the Spanish giants remain in serious financial danger and could be forced to sell some of their star assets in the transfer window. The club must offload players before they can buy anyone due to their restraints, and with Pedri, Gavi and Sergio Busquests all impressing in Barca's midfield last term, De Jong may be the one to make way.
Ten Hag is hoping to convince De Jong to join United and has assured him he will be a key player in their rebuild despite no Champions League football for the Red Devils next season. They finished sixth in the Premier League, 11 points behind fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur and will participate in the Europa League instead.
However, the Red Devils do not want the situation to drag out longer and the club want to know whether De Jong's future lies in Manchester or elsewhere. According to SPORT, United 'cannot wait any longer' to find out where he will be playing his football next term as Ten Hag begins to shape together his team for 2022/23.
If his answer is no, United will have to explore other targets with the midfield an area in need of serious surgery in the summer. Paul Pogba is set to leave the club and join Juventus when his contract expires, while Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic will also depart at the end of their current deals in June.
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This leaves just Scott McTominay, Fred and Donny van de Beek as United's only other three senior central midfielders with Bruno Fernandes operating in a more advanced role. De Jong usually plays in the No.8 position but can also fill in deeper in a midfield-pivot if needed.
Ten Hag used De Jong in a three-man midfield at Ajax alongside Lasse Schöne and Van de Beek. The latter has struggled for regular game time at United since joining in 2020 but Ten Hag's arrival could rejuvenate his career and get him back to his best.
Despite De Jong's reported stance, United are said to be confident of agreeing a deal with Barcelona for a fee in the region of £60million. Declan Rice and Ruben Neves also continue to be linked with a move to Old Trafford.
