'I know Man Utd's dream January signing very well – he'd make them a better team' - The Mirror

A Manchester United icon has urged his former team to sign a Barcelona star, describing him as a "dream" signing for the Red Devils

Manchester United legend Jaap Stam has identified Frenkie De Jong as the perfect signing for the Red Devils. Last summer, United were in the market for a new central midfielder but failed to complete a deal.

Despite Ruben Amorim's departure, strengthening the middle of the park remains high on the club's to-do list, especially with interim boss Michael Carrick expected to switch to a back four formation, requiring an additional midfielder.

The Red Devils have been linked with several targets including Brighton's Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, but their expensive price tags have so far put the club off making a move.

A major signing in January appears unlikely, with United planning to tackle the midfield situation comprehensively at the end of the campaign. However, Stam has urged his former employers to go after Barcelona star De Jong, branding him a "dream" signing, reports the Daily Star.

"My dream signing for Manchester United in the January transfer window would be Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona," Stam told Covers.com.

"United should always be looking at players who can make them play better football, and Frenkie has been on the club's shortlist ever since Erik ten Hag was in charge. I've worked with Frenkie a lot when he was a youngster at Ajax and he really is someone who can make a team play better football.

"He's so comfortable on the ball and he's got the legs to run up and down the pitch. He's creative and he finds the right passes when he's on the ball, which is something that United need at the moment."

Throughout Erik ten Hag's tenure at United, the club were heavily linked with De Jong, but the Dutch international never made the switch despite financially-stricken Barcelona pushing for his exit.

The 28-year-old, who worked with Stam at Ajax, transferred from the Eredivisie club to Barca in 2019 and has clocked up 282 appearances for the Catalan giants in the years since.

However, his spot in the starting line-up was far from secure following a red card against Celta Vigo in November, leading to a near two-month wait before reclaiming his place in the La Liga side's first XI, along with the captain's armband.

Stam suggested that if De Jong proves unattainable, United should reignite their interest in Baleba. "Elsewhere, Carlos Baleba from Brighton is a very good player and he could do well at Old Trafford," he proposed.

"I'm always looking at the United's system and how I want them to play, and I believe they would become a better team with Baleba and De Jong in there."

Stam spent three years at Old Trafford as a player. He joined the club from PSV in 1998 and played a central role in United's historic Treble-winning campaign.

The defender went on to make 127 appearances for the Red Devils before being sold to Lazio in 2001. Sir Alex Ferguson would later brand his decision to let Stam leave as one of his biggest managerial blunders.