Man Utd warned off ‘indecisive and overpaid’ transfer target as brutal message sent

Frenkie de Jong has been on the radar of Manchester United for some time and was close to a move to the Red Devils during Erik ten Hag’s time as manager

Long-time Manchester United transfer target Frenkie de Jong doesn’t justify his huge wages, according to a former Barcelona coach.

The Red Devils have been perennially linked with the Dutch midfielder since Erik ten Hag’s time in charge. The ex-United boss worked with De Jong at Ajax and, at one stage, they looked set to be reunited at Old Trafford, with Barcelona open to offloading the player. However, De Jong, who earns a reputed £16million a year, opted to stay put and fight for his place.

Three years on, De Jong is nearing the end of his Barca contract, meaning he will be a free agent next summer unless he pens a new deal with the Catalans.

If a new deal isn’t agreed, he could soon come back onto United’s radar if Ruben Amorim, or whoever is in charge, decides he wants to strengthen his midfield. However, Oscar Garcia, a former Barca youth coach, has advised against signing De Jong.

He argued that while De Jong is a talented player, he doesn’t justify his wages. Speaking on Cadena SER’s Què t’hi Jugues show during Barcelona’s 3-1 victory at Real Oviedo on Thursday, Garcia said: “I think he’s better than you say and worse than what he’s paid to do.

“He’s a good player, but he’s not the typical footballer we’ve always had in that position in front of the defence. And he’s not decisive enough to be one of the highest-paid.

“Normally, the highest paid are the ones who decide games. Yes, he’s a very good player, but I don’t think he can decide a match.”

De Jong is one of the top earners in the squad, with only Robert Lewandowski earning a higher salary. According to SPORT, Barcelona president Joan Laporta wants to maintain the terms of De Jong’s current contract if he stays at the club.

Despite Garcia’s criticism, De Jong has made a good start to the season, with seven appearances across La Liga and the Champions League.

United were linked with a host of top-class midfielders in the summer but failed to add to their ranks. If Amorim is still at the helm come January, he will surely be looking to strengthen that area of the pitch.

The under-pressure Portuguese coach bought himself some time on Saturday by leading United to a 2-0 victory over Sunderland at Old Trafford.