Manchester United are reportedly preparing to submit an improved offer for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
The Red Devils have identified the Netherlands international as their leading summer transfer target, with new head coach Erik ten Hag desperate for a reunion with the player that he managed at Ajax.
De Jong said earlier this month that he was happy at Barcelona, claiming that the Catalan outfit are his "dream club", but Ten Hag has allegedly convinced the Dutchman to move to Old Trafford.
"I prefer to stay with Barcelona. Barcelona is just my dream club. Also from a young age. I just said it too. I've never regretted my choice despite the fact that I had hoped for more in terms of prizes than I've achieved so far. But I have never regretted my choice," the midfielder told ESPN when questioned on his future.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano recently said that the 20-time English champions had made a verbal bid for the midfielder, offering €60m (£52m) plus €10m (£8.7m) in add-ons, but Barcelona are believed to want an €85m (£73.8m) guaranteed fee.
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According to the Manchester Evening News, Man United are now preparing to submit an improved offer for the Dutchman in the hope of coming to an agreement over a transfer fee.
The report claims that Ten Hag has been in talks with De Jong over a move to Old Trafford and is believed to have promised that he will be a key player at the club.
The former Ajax youngster made 46 appearances for Barcelona last season, contributing four goals and five assists in the process, but the La Liga giants are said to be open to a sale due to their financial problems.
De Jong has allegedly already cleared out his locker at Barcelona, with the midfielder expecting to make the move to Old Trafford before the end of the summer transfer window.
The Dutchman still has more than four years left to run on his contract, placing the Catalan side in a strong position to demand a high fee, and it is believed that an agreement could be reached in the region of €75m (£64.6m).
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Man United CEO Richard Arnold recently said that the club were "doing everything possible" to bring De Jong to Old Trafford before the end of the summer transfer window.
"As a club we're doing everything possible to get the deal done. I've been up for days trying to get it done, the money is there but there's things standing in our way which I can't say," Arnold told a group of anti-Glazer protestors in a Cheshire pub.
De Jong made the move to Barcelona from Ajax in July 2016, and he has represented the La Liga giants on 138 occasions in all competitions, contributing 12 goals and 17 assists in the process.
Man United are also believed to be determined to sign Ajax attacker Antony this summer, while the club have offered a contract to Denmark international Christian Eriksen.
The 20-time English champions are due back in pre-season training on Monday, while they will begin their preparations for the 2022-23 campaign with a friendly against Liverpool on July 12.
Matt Law
