"Would go down well with Ten Hag" - Journalist drops claim as Man Utd eye £85m "reunion" swoop

Manchester United would excite fans and incoming boss Erik ten Hag by welcoming Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong to Old Trafford this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Ten Hag is set to officially take over as the Red Devils’ new manager next week and it seems he is keen to be reunited with fellow Dutchman de Jong in the red half of Manchester.

According to ESPN, Manchester United and Manchester City are monitoring de Jong’s situation ahead of potentially looking to prise him away from Barcelona when the transfer window reopens next month.

But it appears it could be difficult for ten Hag and the Old Trafford hierarchy to persuade de Jong to seal the switch as the report suggests the 40-cap Netherlands international is keen to remain at the Nou Camp and would only entertain heading to a Champions League club if he is told he has no future with his current employers.

Despite de Jong’s wish to stay with the La Liga giants and his £164,000-per-week contract having more than four years remaining, it appears Barcelona have not ruled out the possibility of the central midfielder moving on.

That is because Spanish sources have revealed the Catalan side would be willing to offload the former Ajax man if a bid worth in the region of £85million is tabled.

While de Jong is on ten Hag’s radar, Manchester United have told Barcelona that they will not blow their budget to strike a deal.

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O’Rourke believes capturing de Jong would please ten Hag during the early stages of his Manchester United reign.

The journalist feels the 25-year-old’s arrival would result in the Red Devils’ midfield options going up a level.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “He (ten Hag)