Manchester United have been trying to sign Frenkie de Jong throughout this summer and Jaap Stam feels their efforts won’t go to waste.
The Red Devils started discussing with Barcelona for De Jong almost three months back as they made the player their primary target for the summer.
However, despite agreeing a fee with Barcelona, no move has materialised yet with multiple issues pertaining to his contract at the club and the money they owe him.
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Despite the uncertainty surrounding this transfer, Stam feels that United will end up bringing the Dutchman to the Theatre of Dreams.
Stam thinks that the delay in the transfer is down to nothing more than ‘financial complications.’
"My feeling is that Frenkie de Jong will come here," Stam told Viaplay, as quoted by MEN.
"At (Manchester United) they know for a long time that Frenkie de Jong wants to come, otherwise they would never push this long to get it done.”
The Red Devils made a shock start to their Premier League’s 2022-23 season as Brighton and Hove Albion claimed all three points at Old Trafford.
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This defeat only proved Manchester United desperately needs new additions in midfield, especially, replacements for Scott McTominay and Fred, who don’t seem to be the answer to the club’s midfield issues.
There have been doubts as to whether De Jong would want to join Manchester United.
It has been widely reported that he’s happy at Barcelona with Champions League football, something which Manchester United can’t offer this season.
However, joining United will see him reunite with his compatriot and former coach at Ajax, Erik ten Hag.
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Moreover, there is no doubt that De Jong will start every single game under Ten Hag, as compared to limited gametime under Xavi, who doesn’t consider the player as his first choice midfield option.
Manchester United are really depleted in midfield after losing Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard over the summer window.
They brought in Christian Eriksen as the only midfielder in the transfer window.
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If indeed United fail to sign De Jong and also fail to bring in another defensive midfielder, there is no doubt the 2022-23 season will yet again be a long, agonizing one with little to no progress in the sections of the team that needed the most attention in the transfer window.
With the defeat on opening day against Brighton, Manchester United equalled a 49-year-old record of ending one season and starting the next one with a defeat for the first time since 1973.
The Red Devils will return to Premier League action next weekend when they take on Brentford on Saturday, August 13.
Topics: Manchester United, Frenkie De Jong, Erik Ten Hag
Mudeet Arora