Frenkie de Jong gives Man Utd final answer after Old Trafford chiefs made transfer trip

Manchester United were desperate to sign Frenkie de Jong in 2022 after then-manager Erik ten Hag made him his No.1 transfer target, but he’s always preferred to stay at Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong has revealed that he’s ‘very close’ to signing a new contract with Barcelona, finally putting to bed years of speculation over a move to Manchester United. De Jong, 28, was the Red Devils’ top transfer target in the summer of 2022, with Erik ten Hag – who’d just been appointed – desperate to reunite with him following their success at Ajax.

Richard Arnold and John Murtough, United’s CEO and football director respectively at the time, flew to Catalunya to strike a deal. The two clubs landed on an initial fee of £56million – but De Jong blocked the move.

Despite the Barca hierarchy trying to force him out, the Dutchman – who earns more than £300,000 per week – didn’t want to give up on playing for his dream club. So, after weeks of attempting to persuade him to join Ten Hag’s United, the Premier League giants had to give up, pivoting to Casemiro and signing the then-Real Madrid star in a deal worth up to £70m.

Three years later, De Jong has entered the final 12 months of his lucrative deal and his future has been in the headlines once again. It’s been reported in Spain that United have rekindled their interest, with midfield expected to be a priority position to recruit for in 2026.

But De Jong won’t be coming to Old Trafford. Asked about his contract situation while on international duty with the Netherlands, the midfielder confirmed that he’s on the verge of putting pen to paper on a renewal.

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“We are very close,” De Jong told reporters ahead of the Netherlands’ trip to Malta on Thursday. “If there’s real news, you’ll hear about it, but I can’t say anything for now.”

The 28-year-old also reiterated that he’d like to retire at Barcelona. The La Liga champions have had a mixed start to their second season under Hansi Flick, with injuries, financial issues and their delayed return to the Camp Nou diluting the feel-good factor.

“I hope to stay at Barcelona for the rest of my career,” De Jong affirmed. “This is the place I wanted to be as a child. Now we have a team with a great future, I want to win the big trophies here.”

Which midfielder should Manchester United sign in 2026? Let us know your pick in the comments section.

Barca will reportedly hand him a three-year extension, keeping him at the club until 2029. In a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona sporting director Deco, explained: “We are talking. Frenkie is really enjoying being here. He has matured on all levels, with his family, in the team.

“If you are a player with character, you don’t just want to stay because you are in Barcelona, but because you want to compete for titles, and he sees that he can compete for titles.

“He sees this and wants to stay here. At the club, we see him as a key player for the current project and the coming years, so I think we’ll get him to continue.”

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