Man Utd’s De Jong-Bellingham conundrum
Karan Tejwani
- Updated: 11 Oct 2022 13:52 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United are eager to improve their midfield next season and have two top targets lined up for the summer transfer window in 2023.
The Red Devils are keen to add to their midfield options in the coming years having struggled in that position in the past and have targeted two players for the role.
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Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong are their two top targets for midfield and they have a conundrum in who to pursue.
They will have to spend big to get either player, and more than that, they won’t come in cheap and Manchester United will face plenty of competition for both players.
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Man Utd have big decision to make
Bellingham is a player they have been interested in for a few years having chased him since he was a teenager at Birmingham City, but he chose the German side over the Red Devils.
They even gave him a tour of their facilities back in 2020 before Bellingham turned them down for a move to the Bundesliga club and he has starred for them since.
Bellingham is likely to have the transfer saga of 2023 as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid are all interested in the player along with Manchester United.
Jude Bellingham has tonight become the first ever English teenager to captain a side in the Champions League.
Moved to a new country and league at 17, did what was best for his career and has passed every test thrown his way with ease ever since.
The lad is a true superstar. pic.twitter.com/HKSk0PMiK6— HLTCO (@HLTCO) October 5, 2022
For Frenkie de Jong, Manchester United are arguably the strongest contenders as Erik ten Hag is keen to reunite with his former Ajax midfielder at Old Trafford in the near future.
Over the summer, Manchester United spent 17 weeks chasing the Dutch midfielder but were unable to convince him of a move to Old Trafford from Barcelona.
They are expected to continue their pursuit in the near future and Barcelona would still be open to selling to help their complicated financial situation.
Other than Manchester United, Chelsea are keen admirers of the player, while De Jong himself prefers to stay at Barcelona, his dream club, and that has always been his top priority.
Whether Ten Hag’s side chases Bellingham or De Jong, there will be stern competition and the club will have to spend big to get their next star midfielder.
