Louis Saha has warned Manchester United over reviving their interest in Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
United came close to signing the 25-year-old in the summer transfer window but a move was complicated by unpaid deferred wages owed by Barcelona to De Jong, and United ended the window with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen as midfield additions.
The Manchester Evening News reported that United have not closed the door on another swoop for De Jong, with the midfielder thought to have given Ten Hag assurances in the summer that he was happy to join United.
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United agreed an €85million fee with Barcelona for the Dutchman in the summer, with Ten Hag viewing De Jong as a world-class talent who would offer balance to the team.
While Saha is an admirer of the former Ajax star, he has suggested that his arrival at Old Trafford could create 'unhealthy competition' and warned United that 'massive' January signings do not often work out well.
"Frenkie de Jong would be a good signing for Manchester United because he’s a great player. He did well at the World Cup and is very composed," Saha told Paddy Power. "But, if Casemiro keeps the form he had for Brazil at the World Cup, there isn’t a single player in the world better than him. His aggression and composure is at the top, and that’s how I see it.
"Competition in the squad is good but having so many midfielders isn’t always healthy. Donny van de Beek hasn’t played particularly well and if United want to bring in De Jong, there will have to be some departures. Frenkie de Jong is a massive player and Erik ten Hag is going to have some difficult decisions to make.
"Manchester United want to be at the top and those kinds of signings would be massive, but they’re not the right signings to make in the middle of the season."
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