Frenkie de Jong next club odds as Man Utd lead the race to snare Barcelona ace

MANCHESTER UNITED are the current favourites to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona this summer, with Juventus and Arsenal also interested.

Sky Bet price the Red Devils as 9/2 favourites, in what will be Erik ten Hag’s first transfer window as United manager, with the two having a enjoyed a very successful period while at Ajax together.

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The Dutch central midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough season with Ajax in the 2018-19 season as a 21-year-old, when Ten Hag’s team won the league and cup double, as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the club’s first time in 22 years.

The 24-year-old signed for Barcelona later that summer for £78m, and has been a key member of the side, racking up 136 appearances in less than three years at the club.

De Jong, who already has 40 caps for his country, still has four years left on his contract, so it’s unlikely he would come cheap to United.

Manchester United are expected to be very active in the transfer window this summer, after enduring a disappointing season with very few players performing to their peak.

Central midfield in particular for United is a position they need to strengthen, with Paul Pogba seemingly having played his last game for the club and Nemanja Matic has already announced his departure in the summer.

It leaves just Scott McTominay, Fred and another former Ajax man in Donny van de Beek as United’s senior central midfielders – meaning the signing of de Jong would be a huge upgrade.

Sky Bet claim Juventus to be the next most likely destination at 12/1, with the Italian giants eager for a stronger year next season, having exited the Champions League in the last 16 this season and are currently sat in fourth in Serie A.

Juve don’t quite have the shortage of midfielders that the red side of Manchester do but again, de Jong would be seen as a major upgrade on the likes of Manuel Locatelli, Denis Zakaria and Weston McKennie.

He’d also be playing with Matthijs de Ligt, de Jong’s Dutch teammate who captained Ajax during their standout 2018-19 season under ten Hag.

Arsenal are also in the hunt for de Jong’s signature, as Mikel Arteta looks to keep improving his young side, who currently occupy fourth spot in the Premier League.

The Gunners are also looking for an improvement in their midfield, ideally someone to partner Thomas Partey, with Albert Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka failing to properly cement their spot in the first team for next season.

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