SIR ALEX FERGUSON’s former assistant Rene Meulensteen has urged Manchester United to go all out for Frenkie de Jong.
The Red Devils spent most of last summer chasing the Barcelona man but repeatedly fell short.
Manager Erik ten Hag has managed to get on just fine without the 26-year-old as United edge closer to a top four spot.
They could also end the season with a domestic cup double if they can mastermind a Wembley win over rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final next month.
But Meulensteen, who was United assistant coach between 2007 and 2013, still believes his old side need another top class midfielder to compete at the very top.
He told Man United’s official Scandinavian supporters club: “They need a really good midfield player.
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“Yes, they’ve got Casemiro in there. You’ve got Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes – a lot of experience, a lot of qualities – but there’s also a little bit of a vulnerability because their mindsets are predominantly in going forward.
“I would 100 per cent do everything to get De Jong. He’s got energy, he’s got legs, he’s tactically very, very good in the build-up.
“For De Jong, I think to be fairly honest, he would have already been here if he had not been happy at Barcelona.
“But he’s obviously very happy playing for Barcelona otherwise he would have said, ‘Okay, no problem, sort me out’ because there’s always a way to fill that financial gap. That can never be the reason. But I can see why Ten Hag is chasing him.”
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The summer recruitment of Casemiro and Eriksen helped United plug holes in their midfield.
The pair have been fantastic and helped deliver a solid debut season for ten Hag.
Barcelona’s chaotic financial situation means they could need to sell some of their star players this season, despite winning LaLiga.
United could also be in the market for a new goalkeeper and Meulensteen believes that is also an important area following the long tenure of David de Gea.
He added: “I really like David de Gea, I’ve obviously worked with him myself, lot of experience, done fantastically well.
“People are judging him sometimes because the mistakes that he’s made in this season in certain games are so much unlike him – which you have to ask the question: why is that?
“That could be because sometimes you can get a bit stale, sometimes you need a new environment or to freshen things up.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
