Manchester United give up the pursuit of Barcelona midfielder | OneFootball

Manchester United’s pursuit of Frenkie de Jong has been one of the hottest topics in the ongoing summer transfer window.

The Premier League giants have made multiple attempts to lure the Barcelona midfielder to Old Trafford, with coach Erik ten Hag keen on a potential reunion with his former Ajax disciple.

However, the move never really materialised as de Jong appeared reluctant to leave Barcelona in the first place. The lack of Champions League football at Old Trafford also played a key role in preventing him from joining the Red Devils.

According to a report from Telegraph, it appears Manchester United have given up their pursuit of de Jong for good as Frenkie de Jong has confirmed his desire to not join the club ahead of the new season.

The report comes amid suggestions of Man United emerging as the frontrunner in the race to sign Adrien Rabiot. The Juventus star is set to be brought in as a direct replacement for Paul Pogba and an alternative for Frenkie de Jong.

Speaking of de Jong, the Dutchman looks set to remain at Barcelona. Such was confirmed by Joan Laporta prior to the Joan Gamper trophy outing against Pumas. Even the Barcelona board is seemingly confident of keeping hold of the midfielder.

De Jong’s prolonged stay at Camp Nou could be beneficial for Barça in the long-run, especially if the former Ajax starlet can fulfil his potential under Xavi Hernandez next season.

However, he is certainly set to face renewed competition, as Barcelona have brought in Franck Kessie and Pablo Torre in the summer. The likes of Pedri, Gavi and Nico are all set to enjoy prominent role in the first-team as well, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for de Jong next season.