Man Utd and Bayern to battle for De Jong

Imre Himmelbauer

• Updated: 7 Jun 2023 16:53 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United have rekindled their interest in Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, Spanish media are reporting. The midfielder was first linked with Man Utd last summer, following the appointment of manager Erik ten Hag – who coached De Jong at Ajax. According to The Athletic, Bayern Munich also hope to sign the 26-year-old Dutch international this summer.

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Bayern are coming off the back of an underwhelming season, though. Although the German giants secured their 11th straight Bundesliga title, it was dependent on a final-day slip-up by arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund. Meanwhile, in the Champions League, Bayern were knocked out at the last 16 stage by Manchester City.

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In order to give the team a better chance of success next season, the powers that be at Bayern are eagerly looking for reinforcements – and a new defensive midfielder seems to their top priority. In addition to West Ham star Declan Rice, Bayern have De Jong in their sights. However, according to German journalist Raphael Honigstein, “serious steps depend on whether the total budget is not exhausted and other players leave”.

All change at Old Trafford?

Man Utd are also looking for a new midfielder, with several players potentially on their way out of Old Trafford. Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek and Fred will all reportedly be allowed to leave, while the future of Marcel Sabitzer – who joined on loan from Bayern in January – is still uncertain. Attracting Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka is also seen as a possibility.

Last year, De Jong's name appeared almost daily in the English and Spanish press. Barcelona would like to offload him to provide them with some wriggle room for wages. De Jong, though, insisted that he didn’t want to leave Barca and stayed put at the Camp Nou despite threats from the club. However, after a shaky start to the 2022/23 campaign, he played himself into Xavi’s starting 11, and it seems unlikely that the La Liga champions will let him go during the upcoming transfer window.