Man Utd may be about to end Frenkie de Jong transfer rumours once and for all

De Jong was a top target 12 months ago when Erik ten Hag was eager to prise him away from Barcelona. The Dutchman was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempts to reunite with the former Ajax midfielder in Manchester though.

He instead signed Casemiro from Real Madrid and the Brazilian is now the anchor of his team rather than his countryman, who would have been a more technical ball-playing holding midfielder than the more defensively sound Casemiro.

It had very recently been touted United might still move for De Jong again this summer. The 26-year-old would have presumably been brought in as a partner to Casemiro and therefore in a slightly different role to Ten Hag’s initial plans.

But United seem to have now moved on from the prospect of signing the Netherlands international. With Fred and Scott McTominay both potentially leaving this summer, Mount seems to be the long-term replacement for Christian Eriksen.

It appears the England midfielder would be deployed next to Casemiro behind a front four of Bruno Fernandes, Antony or Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and a new centre-forward. Mount has the technical quality, tactical nous and pressing ability to become a successful deeper-lying playmaker.

And given United may have to shell out £60m on Mount with a likely wage of around £200,000 a week – which would total an extra £52m over the course of a five-year contract – he is not joining just to be a squad player. The 24-year-old will expect to become a mainstay.

With Casemiro under contract until 2026, with the option for a further 12 months, United’s starting midfield two seems set for the foreseeable future if they buy Mount. That is at least providing the Chelsea midfielder realises his huge potential under Ten Hag.

If he does, there is no need for a player like De Jong, who himself would cost at least £70m in fees and likely another £50m or more in wages and who would not accept a bit-part role. Instead, it seems United are finally ready to put the transfer rumours to bed.

The links between the player and Ten Hag suggest as long as the Dutchman is the manager at Old Trafford, there will always be tenuous speculation from Spain. But if United sign Mount as now seems likely, the Red Devils may have their ideal successor to the ageing Eriksen – and this one comes with extra energy and tenacity on the other side of the ball too.