Man Utd now 'trying to sign' £72m star before Liverpool at Old Trafford

Manchester United could try to wrap up a deal for Frenkie de Jong before their next game against Liverpool, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

The Barcelona midfielder has been a target for the Red Devils all summer, and Crook says he has been told that the club would work on signing him ahead of that clash against their fierce rivals at Old Trafford.

Last week, Sky Sports reported that Chelsea were ready to match the £72m fee United had agreed with Barcelona to sign De Jong this transfer window.

The Manchester outfit, however, may have to present another offer, with De Telegraaf claiming that their agreement with the La Liga giants has now expired.

Whatever the case, United still need to convince De Jong to join their club.

According to The Telegraph, the Dutchman prefers a move to Chelsea if he is to leave the Spotify Camp Nou this summer.

Crook has told GIVEMESPORT that he has been informed that United are working on signing De Jong before they welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford next Monday.

Speaking to GMS, the talkSPORT reporter said: “It’s been mentioned to me there’s a loose plan to try and get De Jong signed before that game. I don’t think that’s off the table, but obviously that’s been going on since the middle of May, so we can’t confidently say which way that one’s going to go.”

It is not impossible, but it does seem highly unlikely. In fact, it seems unlikely that De Jong will sign for United at all.

At the end of June, his former manager Ronald Koeman told TV3 (via ESPN): “The only thing I know from Frenkie is that he wants to stay at Barca.

“In fact, a couple of days ago he said that: ‘I want to stay at Barca.’ But I don’t know if Barca want to sell Frenkie de Jong or if they just need the money –