HERE WE GO: Manchester United have finally won the transfer race over Chelsea and Liverpool to the signing of £70m midfielder, verbal agreement reached last night, jersey number picked as play now arriving for Medical

Manchester United has triumphed over rivals Chelsea and Liverpool in the race to secure the signing of a £70 million midfielder. A verbal agreement was reached late last night, and the player is now set to arrive for his medical examination, having already chosen his jersey number.

The club is eager to bolster its midfield before the transfer window shuts. Recently, Manchester United has been linked with Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. However, securing Ugarte’s transfer could prove challenging due to the steep demands from PSG. The French club is asking for around £60 million for the former Sporting CP player, and they are showing no signs of lowering their valuation, even after acquiring Joao Neves.

Given the complexities of the Ugarte deal, Manchester United may have to explore other options. According to reports from Sport, the club is considering making a renewed attempt to sign Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong. United is reportedly willing to go to great lengths to bring the Dutch midfielder to Old Trafford, but they face significant challenges, as De Jong is hesitant to leave Barcelona.

Frenkie de Jong, who initially turned down a move to Manchester United two years ago, is currently recovering from an ankle injury he sustained last season. He has two years remaining on his contract with Barcelona, where he earns a substantial salary. Barcelona, on the other hand, is open to selling De Jong for £51 million as they aim to return to a 1:1 spending rule, which requires a significant sale.

The possible arrival of De Jong at Manchester United is seen as a dream scenario by many, with his signing being described as the “icing on the cake” for the club. However, there are several reasons why this transfer might not come to fruition.

Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has long been keen on reuniting with De Jong, especially after the club had reached an agreement with Barcelona in 2022. However, De Jong’s reluctance to leave Barcelona has been a persistent obstacle. The 27-year-old Dutch midfielder has consistently shown no interest in departing the Spanish club, and it’s unlikely he will consider leaving during the current transfer window.

De Jong’s ongoing rehabilitation from an ankle injury is one of the factors that complicate the situation. Although the transfer fee might not be an issue for Manchester United, his substantial wages present a significant challenge. At Barcelona, De Jong earns a basic salary of approximately £406,000 per week. Should he transfer to another club, he might demand an even higher wage, which could be impractical for Manchester United to accommodate.

Currently, Casemiro is the highest-paid player at Manchester United, earning £350,000 per week, with Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes following at £300,000 per week. Unless Manchester United can offload Casemiro’s salary from their wage bill, they are unlikely to meet De Jong’s wage demands, even though Barcelona’s coach Xavi has described him as ‘world-class.’

Considering these various challenges, it seems improbable that Manchester United will be able to sign Frenkie de Jong this summer.