Manchester United are interested in signing Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona this summer to reunite the Holland midfielder with his old manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
However, there are a number of obstacles to be overcome including Barca’s £70million valuation and De Jong’s reluctance to leave the Nou Camp.
United will be in the market for a new central midfielder when Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba leave as free agents at the end of next month, and sources have confirmed that De Jong is a player the club admire.
Preliminary talks are understood to have taken place with his representatives, but speculation in Spain that a deal may be close is said to be premature.