Erik ten Hag could finally sign his Frenkie de Jong for Manchester United at half the cost

Manchester United have signed five midfielders since Barcelona playmaker Frenkie de Jong rebuffed his proposed reunion with former Ajax mentor Erik ten Hag last summer. However, after splashing out £120million to strengthen up that position, the Dutchman might now finally be ready to trial his very own version.

De Jong did not exactly play United last summer, but he and they were certainly played by the Catalan giants. The silky middleman Ten Hag helped nurture through the famed Amsterdam system was, seemingly, up for grabs until Barcelona performed a sharp transfer U-turn to put him front and centre in their successful title charge.

As is so often the case, money was one predominant sticking point. De Jong had deferred wages dating right back to the Covid-19 pandemic, but what the 26-year-old really thought Barcelona owed him was an opportunity to win back his place, stay in his dream city and (re) prove his worth.

He did that with interest last season after Xavi and the Camp Nou hierarchy opted to play ball. Money was not the concern for United, though, as they have highlighted over 12 months.

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Casemiro and Mason Mount - completely different players to De Jong and from each other - set United back over £120million between them. Christian Eriksen was a shrewd free transfer, while Marcel Sabitzer was snapped-up on loan from Bayern Munich during the January transfer window.

Sabitzer has since returned to the Bundesliga - completing a permanent transfer to Borussia Dortmund from main rivals Bayern this summer - and United