Since Erik ten Hag’s appointment as United manager in 2022, the club has shown consistent interest in signing the Netherlands international, who previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax.
This connection has fueled ongoing rumors regarding a potential move to Old Trafford.
With the summer transfer window closing in just a month, United has once again been linked to De Jong.
However, this time, reports suggest a swap deal involving a current United player. According to Spanish news outlet El Nacional, Ten Hag remains eager to bring De Jong to United.
The report indicates that United proposed a swap deal that would see Antony move to Barcelona in exchange for De Jong.
Despite United’s approach, Barcelona has reportedly rejected the proposal, stating that they are not interested in a swap deal involving Antony.
The Catalan club has made it clear that De Jong will only leave if a club meets their financial demands, rather than through a player exchange.
De Jong is currently sidelined with an ankle injury that has kept him out of action, including his absence from Euro 2024 with the Netherlands.
There is no specific timeline for his return, as he initially sustained the injury in March.