Manchester United and Barcelona are reportedly in advanced negotiations over a possible transfer of Frenkie de Jong in a deal worth €80 million.
According to SPORT, Manchester United are closing in on the capture of Barcelona midfield mainstay Frenkie de Jong as the two clubs are in advanced stages of the negotiations over a potential €80 million move.
De Jong has been with Barcelona since 2019 when he joined from AFC Ajax in a deal worth €86 million. While he has been a permanent fixture in the centre of the park for the Blaugrana, he has not hit the heights that were expected of him either. And, given their financial situation, it has opened the way for the Catalan giants to consider selling the 25-year-old for a hefty sum.
Manchester United have been at the forefront of the interest in de Jong this summer. The Red Devils appointed Erik ten Hag as their new manager recently and the Dutchman is intent on reuniting with his former protege, having worked with de Jong at Ajax in the past. The two clubs have been locked in negotiations over a transfer for quite some time now.
Manchester United have already a bid for Frenkie de Jong, which was turned down by Barcelona as it did not meet their demands. The Premier League giants are reported to have made a fresh and improved offer worth €65 million for the Netherlands international, although that is also short of Barcelona’s valuation for their prized asset.
Manchester United are closing in on an agreement with Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong ✍️ pic.twitter.com/Db1ArxYKHy
— GOAL (@goal) June 25, 2022
But as per SPORT, discussions have continued in a positive manner, and progress has been made, with a deal now getting closer and closer to being finalised. The report states that the transfer operation will likely be worth around €80 million, which is much closer to what the Blaugrana were seeking for de Jong’s services this summer.
Any move will be subject to the former Ajax ace giving his thumbs up to the deal. While there had been apprehensions over a move in the past since Manchester United will not play in the Champions League next season, de Jong has since mellowed down on the stance and is open to making the switch to Old Trafford.
So, with talks between Manchester United and Barcelona advancing positively, the Red Devils are now confident about finalising the deal before June 30. Having lost Paul Pogba this summer, Manchester United are in desperate need of a quality midfield operator, and the 25-year-old de Jong has what it takes to be an excellent fit, thanks to his history with ten Hag.
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The report further states that Manchester United are already talking to de Jong’s entourage to finalise the contract details over a five-year deal. As things stand, the transfer is in the final stretch and could soon materialise after having dominated the headlines for over a month.
