Louis Saha has warned Manchester United over signing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and named the member of Erik ten Hag’s squad who may have to move on next month.
United tried to sign De Jong from Barca last summer but when talks broke down they turned their attentions to Brazil star Casemiro and former Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen.
Netherlands international De Jong has impressed at the Nou Camp following his £65m move from Ajax in 2019 but Barcelona were willing to cash in due to their dire financial situation.
Despite bolstering Ten Hag’s midfield options by bringing Casemiro and Eriksen to Old Trafford, Manchester United remain interested in signing De Jong and could make a January move for the 25-year-old.
Saha is a big fan of ‘great player’ De Jong but says his arrival at Old Trafford could create ‘unhealthy competition’ and has warned United that ‘massive’ January signings do not often work out well.
But if Manchester United insist on signing De Jong, Saha says they will need to make room for the midfielder and named Donny van de Beek as a player who could move on.
Van de Beek, 25, has flattered to deceive following his £40m move from Ajax in 2020 and started just one Premier League game this season.
‘Frenkie de Jong would be a good signing for Manchester United because he’s a great player! He did well at the World Cup and is very composed,’ Saha told Paddy Power.
‘But, if Casemiro keeps the form he had for Brazil at the World Cup, there isn’t a single player in the world better than him. His aggression and composure is at the top, and that’s how I see it.
‘Competition in the squad is good but having so many midfielders isn’t always healthy.
‘Donny van de Beek hasn’t played particularly well and if United want to bring in de Jong, there will have to be some departures.
‘Frenkie de Jong is a massive player and Erik ten Hag is going to have some difficult decisions to make.
‘Manchester United want to be at the top and those kinds of signings would be massive, but they’re not the right signings to make in the middle of the season.’
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