Are we finally getting to the final stages of completing a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong? It looks like it with Richard Arnold and John Murtough making their presence known in Barcelona.
Like the rest of us, it sounds like these two Manchester United suits are getting fed up of playing the waiting game with Barcelona and they’ve set a Friday deadline to complete the deal.
According to Catalan journalist Oriol Domenech, speaking to the Onze program via Esport3, a maximum figure has been agreed between the two clubs (fixed and variable) and at that is left to do is convince the player.
I have always said that I don’t think Erik ten Hag would have spent the summer targeting Frenkie de Jong if he didn’t think the Netherlands international would be interested in a move.
I mean, he’s just a phone call away.
Domenech claims the total amount agreed by the two clubs will be €85 million, although he does not specify how that amount will be divided between a guaranteed sum and add-ons.
It is also suggested that the only part missing from this three-way negotiation is De Jong’s seal of approval, with Ten Hag doing his bit to seduce the player personally.
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Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo cite these claims as well as other stuff relating to De Jong. For instance, Gerard Romero, who covers a lot of Barcelona material, had some information on United’s recent meeting in Barcelona.
Richard Arnold and John Murtough were both spotted in the city in a bid to complete a deal for De Jong by Friday. It is believed they met with Mateu Alemany, Jordi Cruyff and Rafa Yuste at the Triton restaurant, which is located near Camp Nou.
The report claims that following the meeting, Alemany met with Xavi Hernandez and informed him of the intentions and the conditions agreed on the price of De Jong.
It finally looks like Ten Hag is getting his man!