Three more signings targeted - where Manchester United stand in the transfer window

29.07.2022 - 13:49 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Manchester United remain two priority targets short in the summer transfer window, with Erik ten Hag intent on adding a midfielder and a forward to his squad.

United's pursuit of Frenkie de Jong has entered a twelfth week and the Dutchman's role at Barcelona has been further weakened by the signing of centre-back Jules Kounde from Sevilla. De Jong has been playing at centre half during Barca's pre-season tour of the United States.

De Jong's wage deferral remains the sticking point, according to senior United sources, with the 25-year-old owed around €17million by Barcelona.

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Barca's La Liga campaign starts in a fortnight's time and they are under mounting pressure to sell players in order to meet the league's strict salary caps and register new signings so they are eligible to play in competitive games.

Multiple sources have confirmed De Jong's preference is to stay at Barcelona but United are emboldened by his working relationship with manager Erik ten Hag from their time at Ajax. Ten Hag has earmarked De Jong as the "right player" United are holding out for to reinvent their midfield.

The United football director John Murtough did not attend their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia and a well-placed source said he and chief executive Richard Arnold were "inter-railing" across Europe in an attempt to conclude deals. Murtough and Arnold were filmed in Barcelona and also travelled to Amsterdam in order to get a move for Lisandro Martinez over the line.

United have not given up on Ajax forward Antony, despite the Dutch champions' steep €80million valuation. With a dearth of proven attackers in reserve, Ten Hag last week outlined the importance of adding "more options" to