President suggests club made £86m bid for United target before star snubbed Ten Hag

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Barcelona president Joan Laporta has claimed the La Liga champions rejected an £86 million bid for Frenkie de Jong last summer as Premier League giants Manchester United missed out on the midfielder.

Now, before you ask, no, Laporta did not confirm whether that so-called ‘100 million euro’ offer came from Old Trafford.

Chelsea were very much in the race at the time. Ditto Bayern Munich.

But Manchester United were the certainly most serious, holding multiple rounds of discussions before Frenkie de Jong – who shone under Erik ten Hag at Ajax – opted to stay and fight for his place alongside Xavi at the Camp Nou instead.

“Last year we had a 100 million offer for Frenkie de Jong,” Laporta tells CCMA. “And we did well not selling him. There are players who should not be on the market.”

READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loans, releases, youth for 2023/24

Frenkie de Jong turned down Man United move

Manchester United would not have paid as much as £86 million up front for the metronomic Dutch international. The overall package might have gone beyond the £80 million mark, however, with various bonuses and add-ons included.

And while there are suggestions that Barcelona may once again be forced to field offers for De Jong this summer – their very well-publicised financial issues ongoing – Man United appear to have little appetite to spend much of the window embroiled in an energy-sapping saga, opting to drop their interest in Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane already.

What’s more, the Red Devils finally agreed a deal with Chelsea for Mason Mount on Thursday. The all-action Englishman will undergo a medical after United agreed to pay an initial £55 million, and should bring to Old Trafford the kind of ball-carrying ability, industry and running power Ten Hag missed out on when De Jong rebuffed his advances nearly 12 months ago.

“He’s a fantastic player and has become even better,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports of De Jong in February, before the Dutchman found himself on the wrong end of Bruno Fernandes’ ire during United’s Europa League victory over Barcelona.

“Playing out from the back, he always has time.

“It was a pleasure working with him. He would strengthen any squad in the world. He’s got unique quality.”