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Manchester United have eight midfielders in their senior squad ranks.
With Christian Eriksen and Casemiro possibly leaving Old Trafford next summer, they will be left with six, two of which are academy players.
In this case, their remaining midfield options would be: Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer and Dan Gore.
Collyer and Gore have only played a combined 46 minutes of Premier League football – the former logging 45 of those minutes against Liverpool this season.
Gore, on the other hand, made his Premier League debut as a 94th-minute substitute against Aston Villa in December 2023.
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With this in mind, Erik ten Hag is eyeing an elite European midfielder to bolster his squad.
The Dutchman wants to reunite with ex-Ajax star Frenkie de Jong, according to Sport.
United fans will have unsavoury memories of the club’s 2022 transfer saga with Barcelona and De Jong.
A transfer deal was agreed between the teams but the midfielder had no interest in coming to Old Trafford.
However, two years later, Ten Hag has not given up on this debacle and wants United to make a move for the 27-year-old in January.
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In 2022, an €85m fee with add-ons was agreed.
Now, Frenkie De Jong is valued at €60m, according to Transfermarkt, meaning United could sign him at a cut-price.
It is believed that De Jong wants to remain at Barcelona and will only consider a move away if he is forced out.
With Barcelona’s financial difficulties, this incidence is not farfetched.
Yet, it seems illogical to insist on approaching a player that does not want to join United – whether the club’s new ownership will finance Ten Hag’s whim and approach De Jong is unknown.
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