BARCA SLAMMED
BARCELONA are acting like “mafia” in their treatment of Frenkie de Jong, former Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart has claimed.
The Dutch midfielder is a €80m target for both Manchester United and Chelsea and the Catalan club want to sell him.
But De Jong (25) is owed €20m in deferred wages from during the pandemic. Barcelona want him to accept
€8m — and take a 50-per-cent pay cut if he chooses to stay.
Ex-Netherlands midfielder Van Der Vaart said: “You can’t treat people like that.
Mafia
“Frenkie earns too much? First you sign a contract and then you honour it or you go on good terms but not like that. This is mafia and they must be punished.”
GOALKEEPERS ILLAN MESLIER
DAVID De Gea’s calamitous display in the 4-0 rout at Brentford underlined the need for competition, after Dean Henderson went on loan to Nottingham Forest. Meslier, valued at €30m, is the ideal choice, adept at playing the ball out from the back as Erik ten Hag wants, and could ultimately replace De Gea.
MARTIN DUBRAVKA
NEWCASTLE’S capture of Nick Pope from Burnley has seen Dubravka demoted to No.2. Dubravka could be tempted by the prospect of becoming first-choice at United.
DEFENDERS PAU TORRES
Spain international Torres has long been linked with a move to United’s neighbours, Manchester City, but has yet to leave Villarreal. Torres is a superb reader of the game, strong in the air and likes to bring the ball out from the back, all attributes that would suit the style of play ten Hag wants to impose.
JOSKO GVARDIOL
JUST 20, Gvrardiol already has 10 caps for Croatia and is emerging as one of the most promising central defenders in Europe. United have signed a left-footed centre-back in Lisandro Martinez but recruiting Gvardiol would allow ten Hag to push Martinez into midfield, where he played at times for Ajax.
MIDFIELDERS DECLAN RICE
TEN HAG admitted in pre-season he would like to sign English players but they are simply too expensive. United are unwilling to meet West Ham’s €100m valuation of England midfielder Rice, although he is precisely the profile of the player they need to build their midfield around.
KONRAD LAIMER
UNITED’S former interim boss Ralf Rangnick recommended Laimer to the club before he was jettisoned after his unsuccessful spell in charge. The Austria international would suit the high-pressing style ten Hag wants to play and would be in United’s price range at around €35m.
RUBEN NEVES
ANOTHER technically-gifted, high-pressing midfielder, Neves has been on United’s radar for some time. At 25, and with five seasons in the Premier League, he would slot it seamlessly at United.
WINGER JARROD BOWEN
THE West Ham and England wide man would be a superb fit for United. West Ham would be reluctant to sell and, with three years left on his contract, United would have to pay up to €80m for him, but it would be worth it.
STRIKERS CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU
ANOTHER player recommended to United by Rangnick, Nkunku’s versatility in being able to play anywhere across the forward line makes him a shrewd investment. The 24-year-old France international, valued at around €75m, would immediately improve United’s attacking threat.
GORDON
CHELSEA have seen a €55m bid for Gordon rejected but United could go in with a higher offer to try to land the highlyrated forward. United sent a scout to Goodison Park on the opening weekend of the season to assess Gordon (21), a fearless and forthright forward, who would add some much-needed impetus to their limp attack.