United and Barcelona 'VERY CLOSE to agreeing a £69m deal for de Jong'

Manchester United and Barcelona ‘are VERY CLOSE to agreeing a £69m deal for Frenkie de Jong after a breakthrough in negotiations’… with Erik ten Hag ‘hopeful of having his former Ajax star at the club by next week’

  • Manchester United are confident in closing a deal for Frenkie de Jong next week
  • Erik ten Hag is keen to bring the Dutch international to Old Trafford this season 
  • United are said to be close to matching Barcelona’s £69m valuation for de Jong
  • The Red Devils are hoping to sort the transfer out by the end of the month

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on an agreement with Barcelona to sign midfielder Frenkie de Jong after a breakthrough in negotiations this week.

The ex-Ajax star has been one of United’s top transfer priorities this summer – with new boss Erik ten Hag keen to be reunited with his former player at Old Trafford.

With the two clubs in negotiations over a deal worth £69million, reports in Spain claim United are confident they will get their first signing over the line by the end of the month.

Manchester United are confident in sealing a deal for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong

According to Catalan outlet Sport, the Barcelona midfielder still needs to give his approval and negotiate a deal with United – but the club are confident a deal will be struck by 30 June.

Reports suggested that the Red Devils had a £56m offer rejected for the Dutch international at the start of the week.

However, negotiations have been ongoing and now United are said to be much closer to meeting Barcelona’s €80m (£68.6m) asking price for the midfielder.

Xavi’s side are holding out on their valuation as they look to recoup the money spent on the 25-year-old when they signed him from Ajax for £65m in 2019. 

United are much closer to matching Barcelona’s valuation of the former Ajax star

Erik ten Hag is keen to be reunited with his former player at Old Trafford for the upcoming year

United have also been in close pursuit of Ajax and Brazil winger Antony – another of ten Hag’s former players.

The 22-year-old is keen to link up with ten Hag again and was absent from new manager Alfred Schreuder’s training session on Friday due to a longer break.

Antony – identified as a target by Ten Hag during talks with United football director John Murtough in Amsterdam last month – shares a good relationship with his former boss, with the Dutchman signing him from Sao Paulo in 2020. 

Talks are ongoing for the £40m man, who scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists as Ten Hag’s Ajax side won the Eredivisie last season. 

Ajax star Antony was absent from pre-season training amid Man United interest




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