Frenkie De Jong displays impressive mid-fielding skills
Barcelona appear to have raised Frenkie de Jong’s price tag amid interest from Manchester United. The Netherlands international is a top transfer target for Erik ten Hag as the summer window creeps closer. However, any move to Old Trafford is far from straightforward.
Last week, it emerged that United wanted to bring De Jong to Old Trafford.
The Barcelona star previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax, helping the Eredivisie giants reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019.
Barcelona have insisted they want De Jong to stay but, with the club needing to balance their finances, it’s possible he’ll be allowed to leave for the right price.
Previously, a fee of £75million has been floated around.
That would make De Jong the third most-expensive signing in United’s history, level with Romelu Lukaku but behind the likes of Paul Pogba and Harry Maguire.
Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong is a top Man Utd transfer target (Image: GETTY)
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Yet Sport now say Barcelona actually want closer to £85m instead.
That would put him above Maguire and only behind Pogba when it comes to the club’s record recruits, with the Red Devils previously paying £89m for the France international in 2016.
There have been suggestions United will have a transfer budget of £120m for the summer window.
And that would mean the club would have to spend most of their money on De Jong if they’re to snap him up.
Barcelona, it’s claimed, would look to put 75 per cent of the cash away in order to protect their finances.
And they’d use the remainder to replace De Jong, who has often struggled for consistency under the likes of Ernesto Valverde, Quique Setien, Ronald Koeman and Xavi.
United want De Jong at a time where two central midfielders are primed to leave.
Nemanja Matic has already confirmed he’ll be on the move, with Jose Mourinho seeking a reunion at Roma.
And Pogba is unlikely to sign a new United contract having never quite realised his true potential at Old Trafford.
Pogba and Matic aren’t the only players who United are expected to lose this summer, too.