Frenkie de Jong links can teach Erik ten Hag and Manchester United a valuable lesson

With Erik ten Hag now confirmed as the next permanent manager of Manchester United, the club can begin to pinpoint the players they want to join the Dutchman at Old Trafford.

Midfield is an area where United need to seriously improve, and the Manchester Evening News understands this will be a priority in the summer. One player who has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford is former Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

Xavi has been very clear about his stance on the Dutchman, saying: "Frenkie is a very important player for me and for the club. I'm happy with him. If it were up to me he will continue for many years at Barcelona."

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However, journalist Oriol Domenech has claimed that Barcelona need to generate cash and so a bid of around £60m could be enough to tempt them into selling De Jong, despite Xavi's desire to keep hold of the 24-year-old. Barcelona are understood to be awaiting an approach from Ten Hag.

This makes sense given Barcelona's well-documented financial issues coupled with the fact they are overloaded with quality midfield options like Gavi and Pedri, with Franck Kessie seemingly set to join them this summer. Though it would also depend on whether De Jong wanted to join a club that cannot offer him Champions League football.

It seems unlikely a move will materialise, but given De Jong's importance to Ten Hag when he was at Ajax, it gives United fans a sense of the type of midfielder the Dutchman likes. De Jong is an all-action midfielder, able to influence the game at both ends of the field with his technical ability. He is constantly moving both in and out of possession and that is the sort of player