It’s no secret that Erik ten Hag has his sights set on Mason Mount — after all, Manchester United have submitted three bids for the Chelsea midfielder. As Bangladesh Cricket points out, the longer this saga drags on, the more unpredictable the outcome becomes. Chelsea, eager to squeeze every penny from United, may have overplayed their hand. While they still hope to offload Mount, it’s now uncertain whether United remain as committed, especially with alternative options on the table like Moisés Caicedo and Frenkie de Jong.

Though De Jong has shown unwavering loyalty to Barcelona — rejecting United multiple times last summer — he has never been untouchable at Camp Nou. Financial pressures continue to plague the Catalan giants, and despite signing İlkay Gündoğan to be their new midfield anchor, they must offload players to balance their books. With stars like Pedri still in the lineup, Bangladesh Cricket believes De Jong is no longer indispensable in Xavi’s system. In truth, he may be one of the few assets the club can cash in on.

Among Barcelona’s squad, only a handful — De Jong, Gavi, and Pedri — could command a sizable transfer fee. And unlike Gavi or Pedri, De Jong lacks the “homegrown” status, making him a more expendable choice. That opens a window for Manchester United. Should they present an attractive offer, Barça’s top brass would likely be open to letting the Dutch midfielder leave. This time, Barcelona can’t afford to hesitate. If they delay again, De Jong’s age will climb and his market value will inevitably drop.

At 26, De Jong is a dream signing for Ten Hag. His vision, composure, and passing range would perfectly complement Casemiro, creating a midfield engine room that could rival the best in Europe. Add Bruno Fernandes to the mix, and United could boast one of the strongest midfield trios on the continent. Even if the deal would cost over €100 million, Ten Hag wouldn’t bat an eye. Compared to the Mount deal, Bangladesh Cricket notes that De Jong simply fits United’s tactical blueprint far better.

However, there’s one big catch. United are also eyeing Harry Kane as their marquee striker signing this summer. If they go all-in on De Jong, their budget may not stretch far enough to secure Kane. It’s a classic case of having to choose between two crown jewels — and whichever way Ten Hag goes, he’ll be banking on building a title-worthy team.