Transfer sagas are among the most dramatic aspects of football outside of games. As a fan, you can find it fascinating to keep up with them, particularly if they occur quickly, and Manchester United is no exception.
Signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus to United in 2021 for an initial sum of £12.9 million—all within a few days—was one of the most dramatic transfer sagas in history.
The storied forward said he was on the verge of leaving United for Manchester City, the club’s fiercest rival, but a phone call from Sir Alex Ferguson, his previous boss, convinced him to rejoin the red devils instead.
Transfer sagas, like the one involving Jadon Sancho and Manchester United, are another option. The drama dragged on for over a year, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team waited forever to seal the deal. The English winger’s signing with Borussia Dortmund was postponed from 2020 to 2021, costing them £73 million.
Another transfer scandal has rocked the Red Devils in recent years, as manager Erik ten Hag has reportedly been trying to re-sign one of his star players from that era.
The stats of Frenkie de Jong’s career
Frenkie de Jong, a key member for Xavi’s Barcelona squad, was once a midfielder for Ajax. United and Barcelona were said to have agreed to sign Ten Hag’s former midfielder in 2022, but the agreement fell through due to De Jong’s hesitation over the transfer.
As the summer transfer window for 2024 approaches, a Spanish magazine has said that United are “prepared in case there is the opportunity to sign him” and that they are still interested in signing De Jong to Old Trafford. Supposedly, PSG is also keen in signing De Jong should the opportunity come, so United aren’t the only clubs interested.
With 30 appearances (sometimes at centre back) and two goals this season, the midfielder has been Barça’s shining light. He gets along famously well with Ten Hag, his Ajax manager. After playing 59 games under the current United manager, De Jong finally broke through and became a star for one of Europe’s top teams.
Anyone can see why Manchester United and a slew of other elite European teams are vying for the services of the Dutchman. As a ball handler and a creator of game-changing passes, he is unparalleled in his mastery of possession and ranks among the world’s best progressors of play.
Among La Liga midfielders, De Jong is in the top 8% with an average of 3.80 progressive carries per 90 minutes and in the top 3% with an average of 2.86 carries into the final third per 90 minutes, according to Fbref. With his half-turn receiving ability and gliding past defenders, he is among the most press-resistant players in international football.
Among La Liga midfielders, the former Ajax player ranks in the top 1% with 10.3 passes into the final third per 90 minutes, 0.66 through balls per 90 minutes puts him in the top 3%, and 9.25 progressive passes per 90 minutes puts him in the top 2%. De Jong can effortlessly advance the game and his line-breaking passes are very effective despite their simplicity.
With a midfielder of De Jong’s calibre on their roster, Barça must have every other club green with envy. Xavi, the renowned player and current manager of Barça, has praised him as “one of the greatest midfielders in the world” due to his exceptional skill. You can’t really dispute his claims.
Considering all of that, one of Manchester United’s most promising young players, Kobbie Mainoo, would benefit greatly from having him as a mentor if the Red Devils were to sign him. Although Barça would probably want for twice as much, his current valuation of £42.8m is according to CIES Football Observatory.
The way De Jong could deliver Mainoo’s greatest performance
From a promising young player on the periphery of United’s first squad to a superstar who starts every game this season, Mainoo has come a long way. In 2023–24, he made his debut for England and has participated in 27 games.
Mainoo and De Jong are stylistically very similar. Just like the Dutchman, he has exceptional passing and dribbling skills. He is ranked in the top 10% of European midfielders by Fbref, with an average of 0.39 through balls per 90 minutes. In a similar vein, Mainoo is a deft playmaker who can effortlessly split defences and find his teammates up the pitch.
Among European midfielders, he is in the top sixteen percent with 2.43 attempted take-ons per 90 minutes and in the top fifteen percent with 1.27 successful take-ons per 90 minutes. Mainoo is a fantastic carrier; he can ride the challenges of the other team’s players and glides over the field with ease.
The two players are quite similar to one another. Thus, Mainoo would benefit much by learning the game from the Dutchman. He is very comparable to the United youth, and although being just 26 years old, he has a wealth of top-level experience.
Still, one might argue that limiting one of Mainoo or De Jong’s powers by playing them in a pivot together is a valid point. The two players might switch roles, with one sitting midfielder protecting the back four and the other attacking. United might certainly find a better balance with the roster if they signed a dedicated defensive midfielder, but they could also rotate players into this position.
In any case, United ought to think about it. Although Mainoo’s development as a player would be stifled if they acquire De Jong, the 19-year-old would undoubtedly benefit from his experience. United must proceed with caution over the next few months as they navigate this seemingly double-edged sword.
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