Barcelona name their asking price for long-term Manchester United target

Barcelona's Dutch midfielder #21 Frenkie de Jong (L), Barcelona's Spanish forward #07 Ferran Torres and Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski (R) talk together during the warming-up before the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on January 31, 2024. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)

Barcelona have reportedly named their asking price for highly-rated Netherlands international Frenkie de Jong amid interest from the Premier League.

Every summer it is suggested that Barcelona need to make money, which leads to constant speculation about their star players leaving.

United fell victim to it in 2022 after the club offered £70 million to sign De Jong. However, the midfielder opted to stay with the La Liga giants after making it clear he never wanted to leave Camp Nou.

Only time will tell if De Jong is more open to a switch now, but there is plenty of reason to believe he could be with the former Ajax star growing increasingly discontent with issues on and off the pitch.

Another Premier League club that is regularly linked with a move for De Jong is Chelsea. Now, it appears that the English clubs have been informed on what De Jong’s price-tag will be in the summer.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have placed an £85m price-tag on the midfielder.

Rather than spending all that money on one player, United need to change their approach in the transfer by planning to build the team for the long-term future.

That involves lower the squad’s average age and getting rid of players we no longer need.

When I watch Kobbie Mainoo play football every week, I ask myself why would we splash £85m on De Jong? That money could be spent better elsewhere on multiple players.

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