Manchester United football director John Murtow witnessed Tottenham’s 3-0 victory over Arsenal on Thursday night as United’s recruitment plans accelerated.
Mrtow met with new manager Eric ten Haag in Amsterdam on Thursday and then returned to England to attend additional recruitment meetings.
United are considering a possible deal for Barcelona midfielder Frankie de Jong and is seeking to attract another midfielder, at least one striker and central defender. The moves for fullback and goalkeeper are also considered depending on the exits.
READ MORE: United weigh in on De Jong
Although United have another game this season at Crystal Palace, the top club figures are already eager to draw a line under the disastrous campaign and focus on next season. Mertow attended United’s FA Cup final victory over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
Ten Hag is believed to have approached De Jong’s agent, Ali Dursun, to assess whether De Jong would be receptive to joining United. Dursun has also represented Donnie van de Beek since October.
The 25-year-old De Jong has a contract with Barcelona until 2026, but the financial crisis at the club could lead to his departure this summer. Manchester City were reunited with De Jong last week after trying to sign him in 2019.
Barcelona signed De Jong for £ 65 million three years ago and, despite their debt of £ 1.2 billion, would not want to suffer a loss to a mid-20 national who went through the Ajax academy. De Jong is expected to start for the Netherlands at the World Cup
United are working to move Leeds United midfielder Calvin Phillips apart from De Jong. Leeds are hoping to keep Phillips for another year, but are now relegation favorites and have only two games left.
The 26-year-old Phillips is about to change his agent with the intention of securing a transfer and has a contract with Leeds until 2024. The English national has spent his entire career on Eland Road.
United are still interested in Villarreal center-back Pau Torres after exploring the possibility of signing Antonio Rudiger when his contract expires next month, but the Chelsea defender is ready to join Real Madrid. Outgoing negotiating director Matt Judge asked about a young Premier League striker last month.
Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani and Lee Grant have to leave when their contracts expire in June, Eric Bailey and Phil Jones want to leave, Dean Henderson will be looking for regular playing time elsewhere, if not is the first selected goalkeeper of Ten Hag, Anthony Martial is available for transfer and United can reduce their losses with Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
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