Erik ten Hag has already found his 2023 Frenkie de Jong for this summer’s transfer window

Manchester United spent the summer of 2022 chasing Frenkie de Jong. Is history set to repeat itself in 2023 with Harry Kane?

Manchester United’s first summer under Erik ten Hag was not a smooth one. Deals for Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Antony were all overshadowed and delayed by a protracted and failed move for Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.

United’s pursuit of the Netherlands international began in late May. By early July, a deal was in place with Barcelona, but it took until August for United to walk away, after the midfielder had flown to the US on pre-season tour with the Spanish side, determined to stay put.

The club invested a lot of time and resources into trying to get the deal done, with CEO Richard Arnold and technical director John Murtough flying to Barcelona to negotiate.

The thinking behind it was clear. United wanted to do everything possible to deliver new boss Erik ten Hag his first choice of target. The club just spent a little too long on it, before finally taking ‘no’ for an answer.