Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong admits to teammates he is likely to join Manchester United

Frenkie de Jong has told his Barcelona teammates he is likely to join Manchester United this month.

United have chased a deal for the Netherlands international all summer with Erik ten Hag making him his top transfer target at Old Trafford.

A £73million deal was struck with Barcelona last month but de Jong’s preference has been to remain at the Camp Nou – with the issue of £14million in deferred wages owed to the Dutchman also complicating the move.

While United are looking at other midfield options, reports now suggest they are preparing one final push to sign the 25-year-old and are confident of signing him next week.

Sport report de Jong has now come around to the idea of reuniting with ten Hag at Old Trafford, telling teammates that he could now become a United player before the transfer window closes.

De Jong is said to be ‘very angry’ with Barcelona, who have pressured him to leave in order to alleviate the financial strain on the club.

The La Liga giants have asked him to accept a salary reduction which would almost half his current wages with the player’s agent now refusing to discuss that possibility, a move that has left Barcelona ‘outraged’.

Sport add Barcelona are now confident de Jong will ‘succumb to the money and affection of United’ before the month is out.

United’s struggles to convince de Jong to move to Manchester opened the door for Chelsea, who had hoped to beat their Premier League rivals to his signature.

The Blues had hoped the incentive of Champions League football this season would convince de Jong to opt for a move to Stamford Bridge.

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Sasa Kalajdzic