Will Manchester United Sign Frenkie De Jong In The January Transfer Window?

This season was always likely to be a transitional one for Manchester United and so it has proved. Erik ten Hag, however, has enjoyed some success in putting in place the building blocks that, it is hoped, will sustain the Old Trafford outfit for seasons to come. The January transfer window presents another opportunity for strengthening.

Speculation is already swirling around a potential move for Cody Gakpo after the 23-year-old’s impressive 2022 World Cup campaign for the Netherlands. Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure has opened up a spot in Manchester United’s attack and Gakpo has the technical and physical attributes to do this.

Ten Hag is surely also intent on strengthening his midfield. Frenkie de Jong was United’s top target for the summer transfer window, but the Dutchman refused to leave Barcelona even as the Catalan club attempted to force him out. Six months later, ten Hag is reportedly still keen on luring de Jong to Old Trafford.

And with good reason. Manchester United lack a ball carrier in the centre of the pitch. De Jong would give them a different dimension and make it easier for them to break down opponents that employ a low defensive block – the 25-year-old is one of the best midfield dribblers in the European game.

Casemiro joined United from Real Madrid in the summer window when it came apparent that de Jong wouldn’t make the move to the PremierPINC
League, but the Brazilian is a different sort of midfield operator. Casemiro is better on the ball than many previously gave him credit for. However, he doesn’t help create overloads in the way de Jong does.

De Jong and ten Hag worked together at Ajax and the latter certainly wants a reunion in the Premier League. Manchester United are a work-in-progress under the Dutch coach and the signing of de Jong from Barcelona, in January or next summer, would move them significantly closer to being the finished article.

The problem for United is that there are very few alternatives to de Jong should he decided to stay at the Camp Nou. Moises Caicedo has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, but the Ecuadorian is as refined on the ball as de Jong. Jude Bellingham is another on United’s radar, but he is more of an orthodox box-to-box operator – fitting him into the same midfield unit as Bruno Fernandes wouldn’t be easy.

There is only so much Manchester United can achieve in the January window, when transfers for top targets are more difficult to complete. However, they signed Fernandes midway through the season a few years ago and the Portuguese quickly became a key player for them. As long as the window is open, United must press to improve what ten Hag has already built.