Alternatives for Frenkie De Jong

SPORTbible-“Frenkie De Jong’s agent has reportedly told Manchester United CEO to stop insisting on signing him, the player won’t join them, he has decided”. One of the worst transfer sagas ever http://dlvr.it/SVTBZ6

If this is true, we need to stop embarrassing ourselves and move on
 
TheReligion said:
The obvious answer is to develop Mctominay.

Has all the right attributes under the tutorship of EtH, MvG and S.McClaren.

Book mark this.
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Obvious to who? or what?

McTominay isn't a kid that should come good this season, he's in his mid 20s, coming up on 26, he's been a first team regular for 3 years. He may get a little better under EtH, but he's not going to become a new player.
 
matt10000 said:
No need for alternative, he is coming.

What is said in public is not what is said in private and we wouldn't still be pursuing this if the player wasn't interested.
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Frenkies agent:

I've got a great new strategy for your career.
Lets put it out that you think Manchester United is a big pile of steaming dogshite and you wouldn't join them if they were the last club on earth.
We can also say publicly that you want them to stop stalking you.
Then we can do a last minute U turn and sign for them. That way everyone at United, especially the fans, will love you even more and be eternally grateful that you lowered yourself to join them.

OR


Maybe he really doesn't want to join us!!!!
 
Rayman96 said:
Actual facts to dispute it or just blind hope?
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There are no actual facts behind the original story. The same source has said its on and its off multiple times throughout this saga and has contradicted that article many times since it was published 10 days ago. To recap, neither Frenkie nor his agent has ever said he does not want to move to Manchester United on the record. If he felt that way they could shut this down in 10 seconds and the fact they have not tells you all you need to know. The various twitter accounts and articles are randomly pushing bs every day because they don't actually have any news but need to keep spinning the narrative to make it look fresh to drive clicks.

Take the logical approach. We have a good relationship with his agent who also represents Malacia who we signed this summer and ETH is known to be on good terms with Frenkie so it strains credibility to think that we have not had some sort of conversation this summer in which we have been given a green light provided Frenkie can sort out his financial dispute with Barca. If the story had been true we would have walked away weeks ago.
 
Gandalf said:
There are no actual facts behind the original story. The same source has said its on and its off multiple times throughout this saga and has contradicted that article many times since it was published 10 days ago. To recap, neither Frenkie nor his agent has ever said he does not want to move to Manchester United on the record. If he felt that way they could shut this down in 10 seconds and the fact they have not tells you all you need to know. The various twitter accounts and articles are randomly pushing bs every day because they don't actually have any news but need to keep spinning the narrative to make it look fresh to drive clicks.

Take the logical approach. We have a good relationship with his agent who also represents Malacia who we signed this summer and ETH is known to be on good terms with Frenkie so it strains credibility to think that we have not had some sort of conversation this summer in which we have been given a green light provided Frenkie can sort out his financial dispute with Barca. If the story had been true we would have walked away weeks ago.
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Good report. Thanks

Hope you are correct as we do need a player like him
 
Rayman96 said:
Frenkies agent:

I've got a great new strategy for your career.
Lets put it out that you think Manchester United is a big pile of steaming dogshite and you wouldn't join them if they were the last club on earth.
We can also say publicly that you want them to stop stalking you.
Then we can do a last minute U turn and sign for them. That way everyone at United, especially the fans, will love you even more and be eternally grateful that you lowered yourself to join them.

OR


Maybe he really doesn't want to join us!!!!
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Go to Bet365and convert £8 into £21
 
Bennacer & Sangare seem like the best options from the little I know about the players on that list. Nunes suprised me as I didn't think he was very similar in style. @SportingCP96 how do you think he'd fit as an alternative?
 
OleGunnar20 said:
Bennacer & Sangare seem like the best options from the little I know about the players on that list. Nunes suprised me as I didn't think he was very similar in style. @SportingCP96 how do you think he'd fit as an alternative?
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I don't know about Bennacer, but Sangare is nothing like Frenkie. He's an out and out DM
 
Rayman96 said:
If he can turn McT into a world class midfielder, he really is the 2nd coming
Cant pass
No spacial awareness
Limited ball control

If he can sort all that and more, he is THE ONE
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People were saying the same about Fletcher for something like 5-10 years, and he ended up doing the goods for us. I'm willing to give McT time and opportunity under a different manager if the manager thinks he's good enough.
 
You have to question this guy's mentality that he'd rather waste his prime years at a club where he's clearly not wanted, embarrassing himself clinging on like a girl/boyfriend who refuses to accept they've been dumped, than go and seek a new challenge elsewhere.

He's part of an increasing trend of extremely talented players who value their lifestyle over their sporting legacy, symptomatic of the amount of money in the game I suppose.
 
De Jong is such a specialist player, not many able to play the exact role Ten Hag wants him for. I can see why we're holding out for a deal, but I don't see it happening with all the latest press releases.
 
dutchred said:
I don't know about Bennacer, but Sangare is nothing like Frenkie. He's an out and out DM
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I think he has good dribbling ability which is similar to frenkie, from what I have seen.
You could get sangare and ruiz for the same price as frenkie.
 
We’ve already signed an alternative to De Jong in Eriksen. My genuine guess is that Eriksen will be our CM/advanced playmaker when De Jong won’t be signed.
We now need to sign a DM/holding midfielder rather than another alternative to De Jong, so that we can get the best out of Eriksen (as well as our other midfielders with neither of them being DM’s).
Could our DM be Martinez?

A midfield three of Martinez(DM), Eriksen(CM) and Bruno(AM) with Fred, Donny and McT being the backups could be a good and solid midfield I think.
 
Housem auor of Lyon I think it is…is a very good dribbler and holding player. Would be my choice…
 
Rayman96 said:
Frenkies agent:

I've got a great new strategy for your career.
Lets put it out that you think Manchester United is a big pile of steaming dogshite and you wouldn't join them if they were the last club on earth.
We can also say publicly that you want them to stop stalking you.
Then we can do a last minute U turn and sign for them. That way everyone at United, especially the fans, will love you even more and be eternally grateful that you lowered yourself to join them.

OR


Maybe he really doesn't want to join us!!!!
Click to expand...
I really don't think we'd continue to pursue so adamantly and put any other midfield transfer on hold if we didn't get the indication he'd come. What I guess is happening is that they are trying to force Barca's hand, by publicly admitting he's willing to go gives him less leverage to get the money he's owed from Barca.

My biggest worry at this stage is that ultimately we don't get him, have to bid late for plan B/C and pay the plan A price, therefore restricting us from other transfers.
 
sugar_kane said:
You have to question this guy's mentality that he'd rather waste his prime years at a club where he's clearly not wanted, embarrassing himself clinging on like a girl/boyfriend who refuses to accept they've been dumped, than go and seek a new challenge elsewhere.

He's part of an increasing trend of extremely talented players who value their lifestyle over their sporting legacy, symptomatic of the amount of money in the game I suppose.
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Maybe he's not that fussed about staying at Barca and just wants them to pay his reported €17m. That's a whole lot of money to just let go of.
 
In terms of being the connector Ten Hag spoke about, Neves is a good option but he just wouldn't carry about his 'connecting' the same way as De Jong. We should walk away if Wolves don't accept 45m at best for him.

Another alternative would be consider getting both Sangare and Tielemans while selling Mctominay if it was up to me.

Bruno Erisken
Sangare

VdB
Fred Tielemans​
 
Florian Grillitsch, free transfer. Fills a gap in the squad and prevents us from panicking into another £50m for a Fred level player purchase.

Grillitsch is good enough to get us through to January. We can use the meantime to calmly plan for a player we really, really want and put the steps in place to get them.
 
Ten Hag clearly knows Sangare well, Sangare is available at a good price. We literally haven't had any credible link to him, I think it's safe to say Ten Hag doesn't rate him and it's a waste of time talking about.... I would like to sign him, I've just accepted it's not happening.
 
#07 said:
Florian Grillitsch, free transfer. Fills a gap in the squad and prevents us from panicking into another £50m for a Fred level player purchase.

Grillitsch is good enough to get us through to January. We can use the meantime to calmly plan for a player we really, really want and put the steps in place to get them.
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A guy that didn't get a new contract at Hoffenheim?

Marvin Wanitzek from KSC should be looked at if we're considering that level of player
 
Ismael Bennacer - the perfect alternative.

Plays exactly how ten Hag would want him to play in that deep role, in that he starts play, makes progressive passes, screens the defence, presses well.

Two recent pre season games:



 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
Ismael Bennacer - the perfect alternative.

Plays exactly how ten Hag would want him to play in that deep role, in that he starts play, makes progressive passes, screens the defence, presses well.

Two recent pre season games:



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He would be who I would like to. Him and Eriksen would be very fun in midfield. Injuries would be my only worry.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
Ismael Bennacer - the perfect alternative.

Plays exactly how ten Hag would want him to play in that deep role, in that he starts play, makes progressive passes, screens the defence, presses well.

Two recent pre season games:



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He's the only one out there for me. Don't really rate Tielemans or Neves highly, and their cost is massively increased just by being in the premier league so makes them less desirable.
 
Bennacer would be brilliant. I seem to remember a €50m release clause too?

Whether he'd leave Milan though is anybodies guess. They're looking promising these days.

Outside of that - How about Koopmeiners? Was doing well at Atalanta last I heard.
 
bosnian_red said:
He's the only one out there for me. Don't really rate Tielemans or Neves highly, and their cost is massively increased just by being in the premier league so makes them less desirable.
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Yeah, me neither. Tielemans wouldn't suit the holding role anyway. If he were to come in, then you'd expect him to play in the 8 role, where McTominay/Van de Beek have been playing during pre season, and even then, whilst he's a good passer given time, he's not very good off the ball.

Out of the two, Neves would be my choice, but he's solely a passer, and even then, very inconsistent with it.

The fact that De Jong can dribble very well makes him press resistant, and I see similar traits in Bennacer.

However, with Milan selling Kessie to Barca, I just can't see them selling another midfielder.
 
hellhunter said:
A guy that didn't get a new contract at Hoffenheim?

Marvin Wanitzek from KSC should be looked at if we're considering that level of player
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I'd argue he didn't get a new deal cos he wanted more than they were willing to pay. Not cos he didn't play an important role in their squad.

I am not saying it's a long term solution. However, when the alternative is spending tens of millions on someone we might not be sure on. Why not get him in on a free, get through to the World Cup with him in the rotation then buy someone we've scouted properly for January?
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
Ismael Bennacer - the perfect alternative.

Plays exactly how ten Hag would want him to play in that deep role, in that he starts play, makes progressive passes, screens the defence, presses well.

Two recent pre season games:



Click to expand...


Lacking a bit of Ajax though
 
#07 said:
Florian Grillitsch, free transfer. Fills a gap in the squad and prevents us from panicking into another £50m for a Fred level player purchase.

Grillitsch is good enough to get us through to January. We can use the meantime to calmly plan for a player we really, really want and put the steps in place to get them.
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I quite like him, too. It is a bit of a worry that Brighton pulled out of signing him due to concerns about his personality/temperament, though.

I still think Fabian Ruiz is the best alternative, assuming Ten Hag is prioritising someone who can progress the ball through midfield and circulate possession. He's not a holding midfielder, though, so if the priority is a shield for the back 4, we'd need to look elsewhere.
 
I know he's not a similar type of player but I really wish we took a punt on Enzo Fernandez from River Plate. He's one of those guys that could really do a job for us in midfield and also explode in value in the coming years and he scored an absolute worldy on his debut for Benfica last night.
 
Bojan Djordjic said:
I know he's not a similar type of player but I really wish we took a punt on Enzo Fernandez from River Plate. He's one of those guys that could really do a job for us in midfield and also explode in value in the coming years and he scored an absolute worldy on his debut for Benfica last night.
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Should have signed him and Alvarez from River. Wouldn't have cost as much as Wan-Bissaka for the two of them. Just shows inefficiently United scouts and spends...

Infra-red said:
I quite like him, too. It is a bit of a worry that Brighton pulled out of signing him due to concerns about his personality/temperament, though.

I still think Fabian Ruiz is the best alternative, assuming Ten Hag is prioritising someone who can progress the ball through midfield and circulate possession. He's not a holding midfielder, though, so if the priority is a shield for the back 4, we'd need to look elsewhere.
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I think the Brighton thing was mostly down to his demands again. I'm not saying it's a long term solution but it's something to bridge the gap.

Ruiz is an interesting one, given his contract situation and Napoli's need for money. I agree if we're after someone to advance the ball above all else he's a good shout. I slightly worry about his physicality but, that being said, I've seen Fred get bounced while trying to stop an Everton counter. So I'm willing to take a chance on Ruiz.
 
TheReligion said:
The obvious answer is to develop Mctominay.

Has all the right attributes under the tutorship of EtH, MvG and S.McClaren.

Book mark this.
Click to expand...

there's more of a chance of us being able to squeeze a bit of juice out of Scholes, Carrick, even Whiteside and Robbo then that.
 
This was EtH's Ajax team in 2018/19 when he had De Jong in the team:
wHVaEzk.png

It was 'connector' (FdJ) plus CM (VdB central) and CM (Schone).


And this was his formation in 2019/20 after De Jong left:
jWTU0m1.png


As you can see, Ten Hag didn't replace like with like. He went a totally different direction. It was more like DM (Martinez a bit more defensive on the left) plus B2B (VdB a bit more attacking on the right) plus #10 (Ziyech).

So I don't think we're gonna go for an alternative to in the FdJ mould (not that one even exists). We'll switch focus to somebody like Neves and rebuild the midfield from the ground up.
 
#07 said:
Should have signed him and Alvarez from River. Wouldn't have cost as much as Wan-Bissaka for the two of them. Just shows inefficiently United scouts and spends...



I think the Brighton thing was mostly down to his demands again. I'm not saying it's a long term solution but it's something to bridge the gap.

Ruiz is an interesting one, given his contract situation and Napoli's need for money. I agree if we're after someone to advance the ball above all else he's a good shout. I slightly worry about his physicality but, that being said, I've seen Fred get bounced while trying to stop an Everton counter. So I'm willing to take a chance on Ruiz.
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Why would Napoli need more money after selling Koulibaly?
 
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