live from sky sports, 🚨Done Deal, Manchester united secure signing of Erik ten hag long time target. Manchester united arguably have had one of the best transfer windows as they look to complete another massive star signing in the next few days. According to reports from Spain, via FOOTBALLWAVE, the Red Devils and Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign De Jong this summer and it is believed that Barcelona have accepted an offer of £42.6m ➕£10m add-ons bid submitted by united. Long time target move to Manchester united confirmed. This deal has gotten united fans celebrating🥳 but would have preferred Manuel Ugarte to him but nevertheless this is a superb deal🙀🙀🙀

Since Erik ten Hag took the helm as Manchester United’s manager in the summer of 2022, one noticeable pattern in the club’s transfer strategy has been the acquisition of players with experience in the Eredivisie. Among the ten players fitting this profile, five have previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax or Utrecht, including new recruit Sofyan Amrabat.

Despite the jokes and skepticism from fans and pundits, this trend is significant. Ten Hag prefers players who either know him well or have experience in Dutch football. This approach has seen him bring in five former Ajax players to Manchester United, with Lisandro Martinez and Antony joining in his first season, followed by Andre Onana as his chosen goalkeeper in the following summer. Rumors suggest that Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui could also be set to join, further reuniting the squad from Ten Hag’s Ajax days.

Recently, another player has been linked to Manchester United ahead of the August 30 transfer deadline.

The latest target is Frenkie de Jong, the Barcelona and Netherlands midfielder. Over recent summers, there have been ongoing rumors about De Jong’s potential departure from Barcelona, where he began his career at Ajax’s prestigious academy. Reports from Spain, cited by TeamTalk, indicate that Manchester United might renew their efforts to sign De Jong this summer, with an initial bid of £42.6 million.

Barcelona, however, has reportedly rejected this offer and is holding out for a higher bid. Manchester United may consider a new offer of £59.7 million, plus £12.8 million in add-ons, to tempt Barcelona into selling the 27-year-old, who joined them in 2019 for £65 million.

Signing De Jong could be a strategic move for Manchester United. Unfortunately, his 2023–2024 season was disrupted by injuries, causing him to miss 28 games for both club and country, including the Netherlands’ participation in Euro 2024. Last season, De Jong made 30 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, scoring twice in La Liga. However, his aggressive play earned him ten yellow cards, seven of which came from just 20 league matches.

If De Jong joins Manchester United, he could be an ideal replacement for midfielders like Sander Berge and Manuel Ugarte. While United is reportedly tracking other midfield options, neither of those deals seems to be progressing at this time. The focus on De Jong, who excels with the ball, is a shift from the defensive styles of Berge and Ugarte.

De Jong is known for his exceptional ball-handling skills and precise forward passing, which allows him to break through opposing defenses. In contrast, Berge is a defensive midfielder who focuses on disrupting play, while Ugarte is an aggressive ball-winner similar to N’Golo Kante.

In statistical comparisons, Ugarte leads in tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, followed by Berge and then De Jong. However, De Jong outshines both in progressive carries and advanced passing, highlighting his ability to drive the play forward.

This has led some, like football commentator Ben Mattinson, to suggest that United might be seeking a “progressive monster” in De Jong. While he may not be the defensive powerhouse some expected, his strengths with the ball make him a valuable asset.

Though the precise reasons for Ten Hag’s continued pursuit of De Jong remain unclear, it’s evident that the Dutch manager has long desired a reunion with his former Ajax midfielder. Securing De Jong’s signature would likely require over £70 million, but his addition could significantly elevate Manchester United’s play in possession, even if he doesn’t perfectly match the ball-winning profile they initially sought. Watching De Jong don the iconic red shirt would certainly be exciting for fans.