Man Utd delivered Frenkie de Jong hammer blow as Barcelona midfielder boards flight to USA

Manchester United hopes of signing midfielder Frenkie de Jong this summer have been dealt a blow as he has travelled with Barcelona on their pre-season tour of the United States.

United CEO Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough left Barcelona on Wednesday after several days of trying to clinch a deal to sign the Dutch star. The Untied transfer chiefs had jetted to the Catalan capital on Monday and despite reaching an agreement with the club, did not conclude the signing.

United already had an initial transfer fee agreed with Barcelona for the value of £56.2million with reports that last week the clubs agreed an overall package in the region of £72million. Yet no deal was formalised as De Jong has not yet agreed terms for a move, although United will not give up on a deal and will continue to push for the player for the remainder of the window.

New United boss Erik ten Hag held a phone call to convince the player that he should join his project at Old Trafford – after the two had shared such a strong working relationship during their time together at Ajax – and the club will continue to pursue a move with De Jong remaining the number one target of Ten Hag.

It has been outlined that Ten Hag remains in dialogue with the midfield maestro and United insist that the hold-up in the move is due to the player's £17million in deferred wages from Barca, which has created an impasse. The English club believe that Barca are as keen for a deal as they are, due to the amounts owed to the player being beyond their wage structure and their necessity to sell.

United this week concluded the free transfer of Christian Eriksen – who became the club’s second signing of the summer transfer window after full-back Tyrell