Erik ten Hag’s attempts to convince Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong to sign for Manchester United are working at the moment, according to reports.
The Dutchman has his work cut out over the summer and into next campaign as he looks to turn United around after their disastrous 2021/22 season.
Trophyless Man Utd finished the campaign in sixth position in the Premier League table, 13 points behind Antonio Conte’s Tottenham and a huge 35 points adrift of champions Manchester City.
A report today reckons the Red Devils will sign up to five new players this summer but that Ten Hag has faith that the current team is also good enough to help change their fortunes.
De Jong has been heavily linked over the past few months with his links to Ten Hag after the duo worked together during a successful spell at Ajax.
United’s major problem was convincing De Jong to join without Champions League football after Barca finished second in La Liga last term.
However, Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness) says that Ten Hag is ‘seducing’ De Jong with his project at United with Barcelona open to selling the midfielder for around €80m (£68m).
It is believed that Barca and the Premier League side are ‘very close to reaching’ a deal and De Jong ‘could pack his bags’ this summer.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag has been warned by Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan to avoid being “too Dutch” at Old Trafford like Louis van Gaal.
Van der Kraan told talkSPORT: “I think Ten Hag will have to adapt. That’s been my main objection to Dutch managers going to England – you don’t know what the Premier League is about until you get there.
“I think every continental manager who’s never played in England gets a culture shock once he gets there. “That has been the problem for Louis van Gaal as well. Louis van Gaal’s a great coach, he’s got loads of funny habits and he has a very outspoken Dutch way of dealing with the media.
“He’s a good coach but he wasn’t the right man for Manchester United. He wanted to be too Dutch but you can’t be too Dutch.
“I hope Erik ten Hag has learned from that and he’s seen that and he will adapt easier.”
