Erik ten Hag could rekindle Frenkie de Jong relationship to fix Manchester United problem

Manchester United's squad will have to undergo major surgery at the end of the campaign. Erik ten Hag is due to take charge at Old Trafford in the summer, with transfers very much on the agenda ahead of his arrival.

A number of players look set to leave in the coming weeks including Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic. The Red Devils midfield department looks set to be lighter than ever, which explains recent interest in Frenkie de Jong.

The Dutch midfielder is contracted to Barcelona at present, but his future appears uncertain. Manchester has been tipped as a potential destination for him and Ten Hag's appointment offers further encouragement that a deal could happen.

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When De Jong initially arrived on the scene in Europe, Ten Hag was his head coach. The former Ajax star portrayed himself as a modern and unique prospect in his homeland, and his performances also made waves in the Champions League.

Highlights of his impressive display in 2019 against Real Madrid's Luka Modric at the Bernabeu still circulate on social media. He showcased his biggest perks in that tie, and Ten Hag truly maximised his qualities.

During his time under the soon-to-be United boss, De Jong was used as an expert progressor of the ball. He was integral to how Ajax progressed through the thirds of the pitch.

Ten Hag even deployed him as a centre-back on a number of occasions, particularly in the Eredivisie. From the heart of the Ajax defence, De Jong was able to receive possession from his goalkeeper before driving forwards whenever he was unpressurised. He was almost a box-to-box central defender of sorts.

His physical