Erik ten Hag wanted Frenkie de Jong at Manchester United but ended up with someone even better

It is no secret that Erik ten Hag wanted to sign Frenkie de Jong for Manchester United.

United even agreed a fee with Barcelona for the Dutchman's transfer back in 2022, but were unable to complete a deal due to his complicated contract situation and the fact he also had doubts about the move.

It felt like a huge blow at the time, but the truth is that it might have been a blessing in disguise. Two years later, they not only have their own star in the mould of De Jong, but they also have one who might be better.

United have certainly missed out on the calmness and creativity of De Jong at times during Ten Hag's tenure, but had he signed, we might not have seen Kobbie Mainoo develop in the same way he has done over the past twelve months. In the absence of a more senior midfielder, the ‘Stockport Seedorf’ has been given the opportunity to flourish, improving almost every time he has taken to the pitch.

An unfortunate injury prevented De Jong from taking part in the European Championship this summer, which means we were robbed of the fascinating midfield battle between him against Mainoo in midweek. What we did see though, was a midfielder in the perfect mould of Ten Hag. A player who cherishes the ball, who can beat an opponent in the blink of an eye, but who is so mature and grounded, that his focus is always on doing what is best for the team, rather than for himself.

Just like United, the England national team's hopes are now intrinsically linked to the performance of Mainoo in the heart of their midfield. He is the heartbeat of their side, the metronome who keeps things clinically calm and composed amid the chaos that surrounds him.

Mainoo finished Wednesday's semi-final triumph with the best tackle success rate on the pitch, the best duel success rate, the best long passing accuracy, the most interceptions, the most key passes, and the most tackles won. Whatever he was asked to do, he did. Whether it be the dirty defensive work required against a stubborn Dutch midfield, or the attacking artistry needed to lift his side and give them a threat at the other end of the pitch.  

"I would like to sign English players because I think there is only one criteria and that's quality in combination with the price," Ten Hag explained of his transfer strategy two years ago. "It looks like English players are quite expensive. It's a fact you cannot deny. In the end, it's about quality.”

It is hard to put a price on Mainoo right now and to United, he is priceless as they go about their latest rebuild and aim for long-term success. He had long been on the radar of Ten Hag, but perhaps he would still be on the fringes if that move for his top target hadn't come off two years ago.

De Jong is synonymous with total football, and Mainoo is the total footballer.