Mcclaren joins Ten Hag summit
New United manager insists on hiring ex-england coach Meeting focuses on transfers but uphill battle for De Jong
Erik ten Hag called a key strategy meeting for his Manchester United inner circle in Amsterdam yesterday, with Steve Mcclaren joining the new Old Trafford manager along with long-term assistant Mitchell van der Gaag and de facto United technical director John Murtough.
The four men met up in the city the day after Ten Hag and his Ajax players celebrated their Eredivisie title. Murtough caught an early flight to Amsterdam to run through their latest transfer plans in detail before flying back to London later that afternoon.
Mcclaren, who worked with Ten Hag in the English coach’s first year at FC Twente in the 2008-09 season, is now likely to be a part of the staff when the new United manager begins his job.
United had previously asked Ten Hag to assess the current United staff before pushing ahead with the Mcclaren appointment but the Dutchman has insisted that he wants his former colleague – assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson from 1999 to 2001 – as part of his team. There is a great deal of planning required ahead of next season with United tanking badly under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, and many players due to move into free agency at the end of the season.
He ideally wants two midfielders, a versatile forward and a centre-half this summer as part of an overhaul of the squad, with at least a dozen players facing uncertain futures. The number of new arrivals and United’s overall spend is likely to be heavily influenced by who departs.
The priority, though, is to sign a midfielder and United are pursuing a deal for Frenkie de Jong but face an uphill battle to convince the Holland midfielder to move to Old Trafford if Barcelona agree to sell. Ten Hag and De Jong enjoyed success together at Ajax and the incoming United manager would like to be reunited with the 25-year-old.
United want two midfielders ideally this summer, with Nemanja Matic on his way out and Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata due to leave when their contracts expire next month, and they are aware that Barcelona could be open to offloading De Jong.
Barcelona need to sell players to help fund other deals. United have had dialogue with the Catalan club and De Jong’s representatives but a deal is far from certain.
It is understood that De Jong’s firm preference would be to stay at Barcelona but, if it becomes clear he has no future at the Nou Camp, sources have indicated that he would prefer to join a club who can offer Champions League football.
United have failed to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition for the fourth time in nine seasons and will play either Europa League or Europa Conference League football next term depending on whether they finish sixth or seventh in the Premier League.
De Jong has two years left on his contract at the Nou Camp, worth about £200,000 a week after tax. If they opt to sell, Barcelona would hope to recoup as much of the £75million they committed to sign him from Ajax in 2019, when they paid an initial fee of £65.3million plus £9.5 million in add ons.
A number of other clubs are keeping a close watch on De Jong’s situadeal, tion but Manchester City have distanced themselves from a move.
City lost out on De Jong to Barcelona three years ago but, while Pep Guardiola wants to bring in another midfielder, with Fernandinho leaving, the Premier League leaders dismissed recent reports of interest.
Barcelona felt they were signing one of the most exciting young midfielders in the world when they brought De Jong to the club but he has struggled to win over the fans and his difficulties have continued this season. Since Xavi took over as coach in November, De Jong has completed 90 minutes on just 14 occasions in the past 34 matches.
He was whistled after being substituted in the 1-0 home defeats by Rayo Vallecano and Cadiz last month and has become a lightning rod for criticism from fans.