Europe (UEFA)
Indonesia
Nigeria

De Jong's Barcelona struggles shouldn't deter Man Utd from dream Ten Hag deal

mirror.co.uk, 12 May 2022, 11:01
The Dutch international midfielder has been strongly linked with a summer move to Manchester United which would reunite him with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag

Barcelona fans are notoriously demanding and, just as with El Clasico rivals Real Madrid, they are not shy in making players aware when they are falling short of their expectations.

Frenkie de Jong knows this all too well; the Dutchman was heavily whistled by disgruntled Blaugrana fans as he trudged off in two recent home defeats against Cadiz and Rayo Vallecano. Barca were chasing a late equaliser in both games but the ineffectual midfielder was dragged off in a clear signal that both Xavi Hernandez - and the club's fans - believed his performance was not helping.

Things have not entirely gone to plan for De Jong since his high-profile €86million (£73.7m) transfer to the Camp Nou from Ajax in the summer of 2019. That deal came off the back of the midfield playing a starring role in the Amsterdam club's Eredivisie success and their stunning Champions League run, which saw them fall agonisingly shy of reaching the final.

It would be wrong to say that the 25-year-old has been a failure at the Camp Nou, despite coming with sky-high expectations and a sizable transfer view. He was viewed as the future of Barca's midfield and the long-term successor to the holes left by Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.

While that has not played out, his inability to hit the highs are not entirely of his own doing. De Jong's role in Barca's midfield has never been truly defined, with Sergio Busquets the long-term anchor at the base of the three-man unit with the other two roles slightly more dynamic. The emergence of teenage sensation Pedri has ensured De Jong is not the metronome in the midfield that many may have envisaged, while fellow teenager Gavi's all-action and combative style endears him to fans in a way that the Dutchman's more languid approach does not.

Much of the excitement around De Jong's arrival may also have been partly superficial. Most viewpoints were comprised from a handful of starring roles in the Champions League knockout stages, but not enough of a sustained sample size. There is also a prevailing romanticism among many Barca fans that stars of Ajax are able to seamlessly adapt into Barca's style - with both clubs so heavily influenced by Johan Cruyff's principles - which may have distorted views.

Have Your Say! Should Man Utd sign De Jong this summer? Tell us what you think here.

It was under incoming United boss Erik ten Hag that De Jong starred so notably at Ajax. De Jong has been identified as a transfer candidate by United, according to reports in the Catalan press, who claim Ten Hag is hoping he can convince his former player to join him in the Premier League.

While it is understood that such a deal is not as close as suggestions from Barcelona claim, there is an interest from Ten Hag and United in exploring the possibility of a transfer switch. Such a deal would see the two link up alongside Donny van de Beek - who impressed alongside De Jong in that Ajax midfield - at Old Trafford.

United's need for overhauling their squad is well-known with Ten Hag needing to revolutionise the starting line-up, but what better way to start than bringing in De Jong? He has already found the player's best form which has also maximised that of Van de Beek.

Ten Hag has since never hidden his admiration of De Jong, speaking to UEFA.com of his compatriot's talents, he said: "He is always calm and always has the solution. He scans so well that he always knows how to go forward. You can hardly put him under pressure - that is such a great gift."

While United must move away from their previous model of spending big transfer fees on individual players, the signing of De Jong would be part of a clear and coherent thought process on how Ten Hag wants his new side to play - and his availability is a unique market opportunity which the club should look to take advantage of.

Top News

29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that three of his injured troops are in with a "chance" of facing Manchester City in Sunday's crunch Premier League battle. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United Women will look to bounce back from derby disappointment when they face Everton Ladies in Sunday's Women's Super League meeting at Leigh Sports Village. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has insisted that he is still planning to stand down from his position at the end of the season despite the recent speculation surrounding his future. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil has insisted that there is "no truth" in any rumours linking him with Manchester United. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he will remain with the Bundesliga giants for the 2024-25 campaign, ending Liverpool and Bayern Munich's hopes of securing his services this summer. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed a major injury boost ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Luton Town in North London. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has confirmed that he is expecting to have Luke Shaw available for selection before the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has confirmed that defensive duo Kyle Walker and John Stones will miss Sunday's Premier League title showdown with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton youngster Lewis Dobbin has picked up an ankle injury that will sideline him for the next few weeks. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will be bidding to improve on a recent poor record in the English capital when they head to West London on Saturday evening to tackle Thomas Frank's Brentford outfit. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is hopeful that Lisandro Martinez will be able to feature in Saturday's Premier League clash with Brentford. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton will look to avoid equalling an unwanted club-record Premier League winless run when they travel to Bournemouth on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jude Bellingham will be back in the Real Madrid XI for Sunday's La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The pick of the fixtures in game week 30 of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign will take place at Bernabeu on Sunday evening, with Real Madrid welcoming Athletic Bilbao for an intriguing affair. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Sociedad will be bidding to make it three straight victories in Spain's top flight when they resume their campaign away to Basque rivals Alaves on Sunday evening. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of several blockbuster battles taking place on the Easter weekend, Ligue 1 powerhouses Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain cross paths for the latest instalment of Le Classique on Sunday evening. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord play host to FC Utrecht on Sunday afternoon knowing that they realistically need to win to remain in the Eredivisie title hunt. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ajax make the trip to PEC Zwolle on Sunday morning in desperate need of three points as they bid to remain in the hunt for a top-four spot in the Eredivisie standings. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both Girona and Real Betis will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when the two teams lock horns at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi on Sunday afternoon. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The latest Pep Guardiola-Mikel Arteta Etihad reunion will be a particularly momentous one on Easter Sunday, as Premier League champions Manchester City host current table-toppers Arsenal with priceless points on the line. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams battling to stay out of the relegation zone in Spain's top flight will lock horns on Sunday afternoon, with Celta Vigo welcoming Rayo Vallecano to the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are allegedly preparing to rival Manchester City and Manchester United in the race to sign Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are allegedly likely to fail in any attempt to attract Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil to Old Trafford. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Thiago Silva will leave the Premier League outfit this summer, according to Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Top-four contenders Nice return from the international break on Sunday, when Ligue 1 strugglers Nantes visit Allianz Riviera under new management. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gil Vicente vs. Famalicao (Friday, 3.30pm) Gil Vicente and Famalicao get round 27 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga underway when they go head to head at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Friday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City vs. Leicester (Friday, 12.30pm) Having been knocked off their Championship perch, an ailing Leicester City endeavour to reignite their title bid against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Friday lunchtime. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria de Guimaraes will be looking to move level with Braga in the Conference League qualification spot when they go head to head with Moreirense on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides who could do well with all three points go head to head in round 27 of the Primeira Liga as Estoril Praia play host to Porto at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday.