Erik ten Hag might miss second chance to complete dream Manchester United transfer

You wouldn't blame Manchester United if they had had their fill of trying to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona, given the extent that a reunion with his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag dominated their summer of 2022.

It was the deal United spent almost the entire window on, even agreeing a deal with Barcelona, only to have to admit defeat as the clock ticked down. Old Trafford sources have insisted since that De Jong was willing to give up on his dream move to the Nou Camp to play under Ten Hag again, but it was a deal that proved too complicated, partly due to his ongoing wage issues with Barcelona.

A year later United didn't even try and sign the midfielder. Instead, Ten Hag returned to another of his old favourites, signing Mason Mount from Chelsea to play the same kind of connecter role between Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. Mount's United career started badly and has now been stalled by a three-month injury absence that shows no sign of ending just yet.

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But this summer De Jong might finally be on the market, with reports emerging in Barcelona on Friday that the 26-year-old could be sold to help fund transfer business, with Xavi departing as manager. The former Barcelona midfielder had been a champion of De Jong's over the last 18 months and he has remained a regular starter in his side when fit and available.

If De Jong does leave Barcelona this summer then Ten Hag will be tempted to make his move, although he might face some of the same battles he had in 2022, chiefly convincing the Dutch midfielder to drop out of the Champions League unless United can salvage