Man Utd chiefs Richard Arnold and John Murtough pictured in Barcelona trying to finalise Frenkie de Jong deal
Posted by  badge Boss on Jul 12, 2022 - 01:15AM
Arnold has made the trip out to Barcelona for further de Jong talks (Picture: Getty)

chiefs Richard Arnold and John Murtough are in trying to get a deal for Frenkie de Jong over the line.

United have been in talks with Barcelona for a number of weeks with Erik ten Hag making the Netherlands international his top summer transfer target.

While an initial fee of £56million has reportedly been agreed, the complicated deal appears to be some way off being completed with Barcelona still owing de Jong £17m in deferred wages.

this summer and have dispatched the big guns to Barcelona to try and get the deal done this week.

On Monday afternoon, Spanish journalist Gerard Romero shared footage of United’s CEO Arnold and director of football Murtough outside a restaurant in the city, claiming the pair have met with Barcelona officials Jordi Cruyff, Rafa Yuste and Mateu Alemany.

The also report Arnold and Murtough could also meet with de Jong next.

The former Ajax starlet is represented by Ali Dursun, who has already held extensive talks with United this summer while overseeing the signing of another of his clients in Tyrell Malacia.

The Dutch left-back remains United’s only piece of confirmed business so far this summer with ten Hag identifying midfield and attack as areas he wishes to strengthen.

Speaking at a press conference in Thailand, the United boss said: ‘We want to have the right players,’ said Ten Hag.

‘We have a really good squad, we are working on to develop our way of playing and if the opportunity is there we will strike [to sign new players].

‘I said already definitely we are searching for players in midfield and I think that we have a need in offence. We are still working for players.’

Asked specifically about the club’s pursuit of De Jong, Ten Hag refused to get drawn on the speculation.

‘I never talk about players that are not contracted to Manchester United.

‘I cannot tell anything about this issue.’

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