Luka Modric says Frenkie de Jong ‘has something special’ (Picture: Getty)

Real Madrid star Luka Modric has labelled Manchester United transfer target Frenkie de Jong as ‘the best Dutch player’.

Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag made his former Ajax star United’s top target in his first window at Old Trafford – but after months of talks, the younger Dutchman decided he wanted to remain at Barcelona.

But with Barcelona’s financial situation still rather fragile – and Ten Hag still keen to recruit a new playmaker – De Jong has remained high on United’s wish list.

The 26-year-old remains happy and settled in Catalonia, though, and has no desire to leave, while he insists he never came close to swapping Barca for United this time last year.

Real Madrid midfielder Modric has now lauded Barcelona’s De Jong as he said: ‘For me, Frenkie is definitely the best Dutch player.

‘The game starts with him. It’s always a pleasure to play against him. He’s young, he has talent and he’s a good kid.

‘A top player, one of the players I like to watch. He has something special.’

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Speaking last month, former United coach Rene Meulensteen urged Ten Hag to bring in De Jong.

‘I would 100 per cent do everything to get De Jong,’ he said. ‘He’s got energy, he’s got legs, he’s tactically very, very good in the build-up. For De Jong, I think to be fairly honest, he would have already been here if he had not been happy at Barcelona.

‘But he’s obviously very happy playing for Barcelona otherwise he would have said ‘okay, no problem, sort me out’ – because there’s always a way to fill that financial gap. That can never be the reason. But I can see why Ten Hag is chasing him.’

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‘He has something special!’