Manchester United could start season without Frenkie de Jong despite £72m agreement

Manchester United are prepared to play the long game in their £72 million pursuit of Frenkie de Jong even if they have not secured a deal for the Barcelona midfielder by the time the new Premier League season starts.

Barcelona and United have reached a formal agreement for De Jong with the Catalan giants due to receive an initial fee of £63.6 million with a further £8.5m in add-ons.

United agreed to increase the guaranteed sum by an additional £8.4m and reduce the add-ons and it remains to be seen if Barcelona now use that higher upfront fee to help partly cover the cost of the £17m they owe De Jong in deferred wages.

De Jong’s preference would be stay at the Nou Camp but the player is coming under growing pressure to accept a move. 

Barcelona are considering leaving De Jong at home when they fly off to Miami this weekend for the start of their pre-season tour.

A deal cannot happen until the wage issue is resolved but Barcelona need De Jong off their books in order to get the greenlight from La Liga to be able to register their new signings, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie.

United are hoping the situation will be resolved as swiftly as possible but they are prepared to sit tight.

If the current salary deadlock proves insurmountable between De Jong and Barcelona, United are likely to be forced to pursue other targets but manager Erik ten Hag - who considers his former Ajax player to be integral to his plans - believes the current wait will be worth it. 

Old Trafford sources say they would have not have got this far down the line if they did not believe De Jong was prepared to join them, despite claims in Spain that the player is not interested in a move.

United have managed to avoid a similar saga over