Manchester United will be given $540 million to spend in the transfer market and will go for FC ... [+]
Manchester United will try to sign FC Barcelona duo Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo this summer after being given €500 million ($540 million) to spend in the transfer market according to El Pais.
The Premier
Last week, Sky News in England reported that Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad al Thani of Qatar increased his bid from £5 billion ($6.2 billion) to something still short of the Glazers' £6 billion ($7.46 billion) valuation.
For whatever amount the Mancuian outfit is offloaded for, however, the Glazers will leave behind €500 million for head coach Erik ten Hag to invest in new players, with two of his top targets currently plying their trade at Camp Nou as "untouchables" according to El Pais.
Signed for a €4.70 million ($5.01 million) pittance from Boston River in 2019, Ronaldo Araujo has risen to become one of the best defenders in the world under Xavi Hernandez.
He would usually be worth far more than the quoted fee, and something closer to if not exceeding €100 million ($108 million) in usual times. But as he can walk for nothing in the summer because of his new contract with Barca still not being registered, United reportedly hope to snap him up for free.
As for De Jong, United had an €85 million ($92 million) offer accepted for him by Barca in mid-July last year according to The Athletic only for the Dutchman to refuse to move citing a desire to succeed on Xavi's watch and play Champions League football United couldn't offer at the time.
The Red Devils might have to offer that same amount or more to test Barca's resolve this time. Yet De Jong still has no desire to flee Catalonia and his status has also changed from bench warmer to essential cog in Xavi's La Liga-winning machine since the time he was cash-strapped Barca's most sellable asset.
In a similar fashion, it is also highly unlikely that Araujo will look to move on even in spite of his new contract ordeal.
Put simply, United may have to look elsewhere on their shortlist, or to others that are surplus to requirements such as Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres if they really want to raid the Blaugrana.