The two were together at Ajax, and with Ten Hag looking to overhaul the Red Devils squad when he moves to Old Trafford at the end of the season, de Jong has emerged as one of United’s priorities.
Barcelona don’t want to see the Netherlands international leave, though, feeling that he can be a key player for the club as they aim to move forward under the stewardship of Xavi Hernandez.
The Spanish outlet adds that de Jong doesn’t want to leave the Camp Nou, but the emergence of ten Hag and United’s financial power could change that.
Even if the economic aspect means Barca could let the midfielder go due to their own issues, they will still aim to keep de Jong, as he is comfortable in Barcelona and believes the club’s project on the pitch can grow.Manchester United could reunite Erik ten Hag with Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong during the summer transfer window, reports Diario Sport.
Ten Hag has criticised the role Barcelona have given de Jong in the past and could look to his former talisman to be the main man in his new midfield, with the likes of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic set to depart United.
17.04 BST: Manchester United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick
has cast doubt over remaining at the club for next season, when Erik ten Hag will take over as permanent boss.
Rangnick has an agreement with the club to begin a two-year consultancy role from the summer. Details about what that might look like have been kept largely under wraps by the club and, although the 63-year-old German says he’s keen to remain at Old Trafford in some capacity, he says it will be up to Ten Hag to decide what kind of support, if any, he needs.
“We have an agreement on the role but in the end it’s not a question about what’s written on paper or what’s agreed upon, it’s about what will happen in everyday life and everyday business,” Rangnick said ahead of Saturday’s 3-1 loss at Arsenal.
“This is the question and it’s also important how does Erik ten Hag see that. Does he like to speak with someone like myself? Does he want to work together? These are the things we haven’t spoken about.
