Ronald Koeman issues Man Utd transfer blow as he reveals Frenkie de Jong’s summer preference
Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has revealed that Frenkie de Jong told him he wants to stay at Barcelona this summer.
The 25-year-old Dutchman has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United this transfer window as new boss Erik ten Hag looks to overhaul the club’s current squad, with the midfield area thought to be a priority position following the departures of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba.
Ten Hag and De Jong enjoyed a blossoming relationship in Amsterdam when both were on the books at Ajax, with the duo working exceptionally well in tandem as the club famously reached the 2018/19 Champions League semi-final, eliminating Juventus and Real Madrid en route to the penultimate round.
Reports now suggest Ten Hag wants to reunite with his former midfield metronome in North West England, and talk of a move to Manchester for Barca’s current star has been gaining considerable traction in recent weeks — but Koeman has now issued a blow to that potential link-up after revealing De Jong’s current mindset.
“The only thing I know is that Frenkie wants to continue at Barca,” Koeman told Esport 3.
“A couple of days ago he told me he wanted to continue. What I don’t know is if Barca wants to sell him or needs money because he is one of the few players for whom they can get a good amount.
“For me, De Jong is a great player for Barca.”
Among the other names linked with an Old Trafford move, Ten Hag is believed to be closely monitoring events in the Dutch capital, with two of his former stars, Antony and Jurrien Timber, said to be on his radar, with the former garnering particular scrutiny in recent days.
The Brazilian winger, a product of Sao Paulo’s esteemed academy, has been a hit in Europe since crossing the Atlantic in 2020, scoring 23 goals in 79 matches for Ajax across all competitions, and even earning nine caps for the Selecao in the process.
