Man United fear that Frenkie de Jong transfer could be on the verge of collapse

Manchester United are increasingly worried that they will be unable to complete a transfer for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

That is according to ESPN, who report that there are variety of blockades standing in the way of a transfer, meaning that the United hierarchy is becoming more and more anxious about whether bringing the Dutchman to Old Trafford is realistic.

The approach for De Jong has dominated the summer headlines and Barcelona’s confusing approach to negotiations has complicated matters. The Catalan club have repeatedly said in public that the player will not be sold, but have agreed a transfer fee in the region of £55m with United.

One of the problems complicating De Jong’s separation from Barcelona are unpaid wages. The 25-year-old agree to a temporary salary reduction during the Covid-19 pandemic on the understanding that he would be repaid the lost money at a later date, but this has yet to happen and De Jong is keen to come to a financial arrangement with his current club before leaving.

Furthermore, De Jong has yet to agree performance-based add-ons with United, the report adds.

De Jong played under new United manager Erik Ten Hag during his time at Ajax, where the pair reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League together before the player moved to La Liga. They also both won the Eredivisie title and KNVB Cup in the same 2018/19 season.

United’s uncertainty over De Jong means that they are ramping up their attempts to sign another Ten Hag protégé in his stead.

The Red Devils had been linked with Argentina international and current Ajax player Lisandro Martinez as a centre-back option, but the report says the club believes he could operate as a holding midfielder in the Premier League.

Martinez has been the subject of interest from Arsenal but ESPN claims that United are confident he can be convinced to join them instead.

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