Frenkie de Jong is the subject of this summer’s big transfer saga, with the midfielder being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United this summer.
The 25-year-old is Erik ten Hag’s number one target this summer and Barcelona may be forced to cash in on their star due to their financial difficulties.
Ideally, Ten Hag would have liked to have De Jong signed by now but the club’s pursuit of the Dutch midfielder has been protracted.
Last week, Barcelona president Joan Laporta rejected any idea that Barcelona were keen on selling De Jong this summer, insisting that he’s not for sale.
Laporta has now doubled down on that statement, delivering another blow to Ten Hag’s plans of revamping United’s engine room.
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“Frenkie de Jong is Barcelona player – we don’t want to sell him unless we have no other choice,” he is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News. “Of course, we know there are offers for de Jong — but we don’t want to sell him.”
As per the report, an agreement in principle has been already been reached with Barcelona, with Laporta waiting for the transfer to go through before pressing ahead with plans to strengthen the Catalan club.
SN’s verdict…
United fans are growing increasingly frustrated with this saga and Laporta’s comments certainly won’t ease any minds ahead of a huge month.
A saga stretching into the start of the season is the last thing United want and there must come a point where it’s better to walk away and focus on other targets.
Earlier on Wednesday, it was revealed that Barcelona’s debt to De Jong could be one of the reasons for the deal to hit a speed bump. Laporta’s statement could also be mind games but for now, it’s unsettling.