Ten Hag tells Man Utd board: Don’t sign any player until you sign him
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag doesn’t want any player signed until a deal is completed for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
According to Daily Mail, Ten Hag regards De Jong as the key player in the style revolution he intends to bring to Old Trafford.
Manchester United have offered a guaranteed €60million for the Dutch midfielder and aren’t willing to exceed a guaranteed €70million but Barcelona insists they want a guaranteed €80million.
Ten Hag has told Man Utd to sign De Jong quickly irrespective of the cost.
Ten Hag does not want the club spending transfer money on less important targets — even on out-of-contract players such as Christian Eriksen — as he wants the bulk of transfer budget directed at De Jong.
Once De Jong is signed from Barcelona, Ten Hag will then decide which players he needs with the remainder of the budget.
Ten Hag’s demands could see Manchester United raise the club’s offer for De Jong this week as the Red Devils push to complete a deal for the midfielder.
Ten Hag wants a deal for De Jong done this week as the midfielder will be integral to the possession-based style of football he intends to bring to Man Utd.
Ten Hag does have other targets, Eriksen foremost among them, but he only wants other targets signed when Man Utd have reached an agreement with Barcelona for the transfer of De Jong.
Ten Hag doesn’t want to find that Man Utd have signed two or three players and then say that there isn’t enough money to sign De Jong.
So Manchester United’s move for other targets like Ajax attacker Antony, Eriksen and Feyenoord left back Tyrell Malacia will only proceed once the Red Devils have reached an agreement with Barcelona for the transfer of De Jong.
Ten Hag intends to use De Jong in deep midfield, the first point of possession for centre halves passing out, just as he used the Dutch midfielder at Ajax.
De Jong’s dribbling ability would then see him push further up the pitch with the ball to put Manchester United on the front foot.
When De Jong pushes forward with the ball, the No.10 is then expected to drop deeper.
It’s obvious to see why Ten Hag is demanding for the signing of De Jong this summer.