United set to miss out on De Jong

The switch saga involving Manchester United and Frenkie de Jong might quickly lastly attain its conclusion, though it is going to be an sad one for Erik ten Hag.

What’s the phrase?

United have been linked with the Netherlands worldwide all through the summer season however have discovered it extraordinarily tough to do a cope with Barcelona, because of numerous elements.

The Catalan membership have been keen to money in on the previous Ajax man to ease their monetary woes and permit them to register new signings however he was seemingly unwilling to make the transfer to Outdated Trafford as a result of lack of Champions League soccer on supply.

Now it appears as if he’ll go away the Nou Camp however will likely be transferring to London to hitch Chelsea as a substitute, with the newest reviews from The Occasions suggesting that the Blues are very near securing an settlement with De Jong and Barcelona for his switch.

United have been initially keen to pay £71m earlier within the switch window with that charge being agreed upon between the 2 sides.

Ten Hag will likely be gutted

Ten Hag has clearly been extraordinarily eager to reunite with De Jong at Outdated Trafford and can little question be extremely gutted that United haven’t been capable of get a deal performed.

Have been United ever going to signal De Jong?

There will likely be a priority now that, after lacking out on their primary switch goal, the Purple Devils will likely be pressured to show to different much less engaging choices, with the reported arrival of Adrien Rabiot doing rather a lot to counsel that these on the board at Outdated Trafford are panicking.

Final weekend’s opening fixture defeat in opposition to Brighton noticed United’s midfield of Christian Eriksen, Fred and Scott McTominay merely outclassed by Graham Potter’s aspect, and highlighted simply how a lot United must strengthen if they’re to enhance on a disastrous 2021/22 marketing campaign.

The latter of the 2 have been so uninspiring that each have been withdrawn early within the match, with Fred failing to win a single defensive duel.

De Jong definitely possesses the standard to play on the very high, emphasised by the 91.3% cross accuracy he averaged in La Liga final season, a tally that considerably betters the 67% completion of McTominay final weekend.

United’s best passer of gamers to start out at the very least ten video games final time period, by comparability, was centre-back Raphael Varane, who averaged an 87.8% cross accuracy, whereas Fred, McTominay and Bruno Fernandes have been all under 86%.

Subsequently, they’re clearly missing a participant of De Jong’s high quality in the midst of the park, and given how a lot United have pushed to signal him, it ought to be an enormous blow to Ten Hag that Chelsea have reportedly received the race to signal him.