Manchester United Try To Sign FC Barcelona’s De Jong And Araujo

Manchester United will try to sign FC Barcelona duo Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo this summer after being given €500 million ($540 million) to spend in the transfer market according to El Pais.

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League club that knocked Barca out of the Europa League playoffs in February is currently in the process of being sold by its American owners the Glazers.

Last week, Sky News reported that Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad al Thani of Qatar increased his takeover bid from £5 billion ($6.2 billion) to something still short of the Glazers’ £6 billion ($7.46 billion) valuation.

For whatever amount the Mancunian outfit is offloaded for, however, the Glazers will leave behind €500 million for head coach Erik ten Hag to invest in new players according to El Pais.

Furthermore, two of his top targets currently ply their trade at FC Barcelona as “untouchables”.

Signed for a €4.7 million ($5.01 million) pittance from Boston River in 2019, Araujo has risen to become one of the best defenders in the world under Xavi Hernandez.

He would usually be worth far more than the quoted fee, and something closer to if not exceeding €100 million ($108 million) in normal times. But as he can walk for nothing in the summer because of his new contract with Barca still not being registered, United reportedly hope to snap him up for free.

As for De Jong, United had an €85 million ($92 million) offer accepted for him by Barca in mid-July last year according to The Athletic only for the Dutchman to refuse to move citing a desire to succeed on Xavi’s watch and play Champions League football United couldn’t offer at the time.

The Red Devils might have to offer that same amount or more to test Barca’s resolve this time round. Yet De Jong still has no desire to flee Catalonia, and his status has also changed from bench warmer to essential cog in Xavi’s La Liga-winning machine compared to the time when he was cash-strapped Barca’s most sellable asset.

In a similar fashion, it is also highly unlikely that Araujo will look to move on even when his new contract ordeal is considered.

Put simply, United might have to look elsewhere on their shortlist, or to others that are surplus to requirements such as Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres if they really want to raid the Blaugrana.