Manchester United-linked Frenkie de Jong reveals desire to stay at Barcelona

The Red Devils are believed to have identified the Netherlands international as a leading transfer target, with the club's new head coach Erik ten Hag managing the midfielder at Ajax.

Barcelona are allegedly open to selling the 25-year-old this summer with the view to boosting their squad ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

However, De Jong, speaking while away on international duty, has revealed that he wants to remain with Xavi's side beyond the end of the summer transfer window.

"I prefer to stay with Barcelona," De Jong told ESPN. "Barcelona is just my dream club. Also from a young age. I just said it too. I've never regretted my choice despite the fact that I had hoped for more in terms of prizes than I've achieved so far. But I have never regretted my choice."

The Dutchman was again a vital player for Barcelona during the 2021-22 campaign, scoring four goals and registering five assists in 46 appearances in all competitions.

In La Liga, he contributed three goals and three assists in 32 appearances, in addition to featuring on six occasions in the Champions League and six occasions in the Europa League.

"Of course I hear about the links to Manchester United, but the people in charge of the club (Barca) didn't tell me anything. So then I will assume that there is no agreement, and that nothing is going on. So then I won't worry about it too," De Jong also said in an interview with AD.

"If I have been in contact with Ten Hag? I won't tell you this. I wouldn't tell you this if it was about another manager or club too."

A recent report claimed that Man United were prepared to make De Jong their highest-paid player to move to Old Trafford, offering him a deal in the region of £395,000 a week.

However, it has been suggested that the English club's lack of Champions League football for next season will make it difficult for them to convince the midfielder to join.

Man United allegedly recently handed the former Ajax youngster a transfer ultimatum, with the club needing to know whether he would be interested in a switch this summer.

De Jong still has more than four years left to run on his contract at Barcelona, while he has represented the Catalan giants on 139 occasions in all competitions, providing 13 goals and 17 assists.

Man United could now be forced to look elsewhere in their bid to sign a new midfielder, with Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba both set to leave Old Trafford on free transfer at the end of June.

Wolverhampton Wanderers's Ruben Neves and Chelsea's N'Golo Kante have also recently been linked with moves to the 20-time English champions in the upcoming market.