Ten Hag steps up De Jong pursuit at Man United; Neymar made available by PSG

Erik ten Hag is set to step up his pursuit of Frenkie de Jong at Manchester United — ESPN’s Insider Notebook has the latest. PLUS: Neymar could be on the move.

Jump to: PSG soap opera continues amid Neymar talk | Barcelona pushing for mass exodus | Bale, Di Maria snubbed | Prem clubs keen on Carmo

Ten Hag to step up De Jong pursuit

Manchester United are set to test Barcelona‘s resolve over Frenkie de Jong despite doubts over whether they are the midfielder’s first choice if he leaves Camp Nou, sources told ESPN.

United want a midfielder this summer and De Jong, who worked under Erik ten Hag at Ajax during the pair’s time at Ajax, is one of the names under consideration.

– Ogden: Inside the broken world of Man Utd
– Dawson: Ten Hag’s mammoth task

Despite playing a key role at Barcelona last season, there’s a feeling at Old Trafford that the LaLiga giants may have to offload the Netherlands international to fund their summer transfer business. Sources told ESPN that De Jong would have to be convinced to join United, particularly after they dropped out of the Champions League, but a move has not been completely ruled out.

Intermediaries working on behalf of Barcelona have tried to find potential suitors for the 25-year-old and although Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have asked to be kept informed, United’s interest is the strongest. Sources told ESPN that Manchester City are distancing themselves from De Jong, instead choosing to focus on Leeds United‘s Kalvin Phillips as a replacement for Fernandinho, who will leave the club this summer.

United have also registered interest in Phillips, but sources said he would be reluctant to move to Old Trafford given Leeds’ intense rivalry with United.

Barcelona are already looking for replacements for De Jong, whose transfer fee is said to be around £75 million. United are unlikely to meet those terms and would have to seek to agree a lower fee, but there is a belief Barcelona’s financial situation could leave room for compromise. — Rob Dawson

PSG soap opera continues as Neymar made available

Paris Saint-Germain have made Neymar available for transfer this summer, sources tell ESPN, with the club seeking a new direction following Kylian Mbappe‘s surprise contract extension.

PSG’s stance marks another U-turn at the club, following on from Mbappe’s decision to stay when he looked certain to leave on a free transfer. Neymar signed a new contract at the club last year and it has three years to run, but PSG are hoping to offload him this summer.

Mbappe’s new deal, which runs until 2025, marks a new era for the club, with sporting director Leonardo expected to leave his position soon, to be replaced by Luis Campos — an Mbappe ally, following their successful spell at Monaco together.

Campos was at Monaco when Mbappe burst onto the scene and won the Ligue 1 title in 2017, as well as reaching the Champions League semifinals. The 57-year-old has a reputation for unearthing top talent and securing large transfer fees for hidden gems, with Mbappe one of many notable successes. Campos joined Monaco in 2013, and four years later, the…