Watch: Ten Hag gives funny response to Frenkie de Jong transfer question
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag gave a sarcastic response when asked to comment on the possibility of signing Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong this summer.
United have already made three first-team signings this summer, bringing Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia to Old Trafford.
But Ten Hag reportedly earmarked midfield as a priority area to reinforce following the departures of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba.
United’s top summer transfer target then became De Jong, who briefly worked under Ten Hag during his final 18 months at Ajax.
The Netherlands international hasn’t seemed particularly keen on a reunion with Ten Hag, insisting that doesn’t want to move anywhere.
“I prefer to stay with Barcelona,” De Jong told ESPN in May. “Barcelona is just my dream club. Also from a young age. I just said it too.
“I’ve never regretted my choice despite the fact that I had hoped for more in terms of prizes than I’ve achieved so far. But I have never regretted my choice.”
United refused to give up and even sorted a deal with Barcelona, agreeing to pay them £63million up front and a further £8.5million in add-ons.
But the Manchester Evening News report that De Jong is owed €17million in unpaid wages from Barcelona and that continues to prevent a transfer from being finalised.
Ten Hag is now preparing for United’s Premier League opener against Brighton and was asked about their interest in De Jong during his pre-match press conference.
“We want Frenkie? I didn’t know!” Ten Hag said with a grin and a laugh. “It’s about the right players and I cannot comment on a player under contract at another club.
“When you work with the current squad and develop players in your current squad, in this moment we have players in that position and [they] perform really well.
“It would be a good situation (to have concluded all of their business) but I have a squad and I’m happy with the current squad.
“We make good progress, I’m happy with the signings until now. You don’t need any player, you need the right player, that’s what we’re working for.”
Asked if they’ll move on to other targets if they can’t get De Jong, the manager said: “If it’s not the right player, no. We need the right players.”
Erik ten Hag when asked about Frenkie de Jong 😂 #mufchttps://t.co/pSDuSxvST3
— UF (@UtdFaithfuls) August 5, 2022
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