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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Manchester United chiefs have grown frustrated at a lack of clarity from Barcelona over the transfer of Frenkie de Jong and are prepared to walk away from the deal.
Manchester United have reportedly told Barcelona they want to conclude the transfer of Frenkie de Jong by Friday (July 15) otherwise they will move on to alternative targets.
United chiefs Richard Arnold and John Murtough spent Monday (July 11) in Spain holding talks with their Barca counterparts, with the aim of finally wrapping up a deal for De Jong.
Erik ten Hag has earmarked the Dutchman as his no.1 transfer target to revamp the middle of the park, but the La Liga giants’ financial woes have meant a deal has been tricky to finalise.
With Barca needing to flog their highest earner to fund their own summer business, relations have strained between manager Xavi and De Jong, who has constantly stated his intention to stay put in Catalunya.
The Netherlands international is frustrated at a lack of clarity over his future; it’s been two weeks (June 28) since the Red Devils agreed a £56m fee for his transfer but De Jong was still ordered to return for the start of pre-season training this week.
Now, according to talkSPORT, United have given Barcelona a deadline to get their finances in order and complete the deal, otherwise, they will walk away altogether.
The Red Devils are said to have been irritated by Barca’s sudden change of stance. Despite agreeing on a transfer fee with the La Liga outfit, President Joan Laporta bizarrely stated De Jong was not for sale.
“[Frenkie De Jong] is a Barca player. And unless we feel the need or the interest to sell him we won’t do it,” stated Laporta publicly last week.
“Frenkie de Jong isn’t for sale. We know he has offers. And if at a given moment we are interested in selling him then we would think about it. But right now we won’t sell him. Even more, we are acquiring another Franck. Franck Kessie.”
However, privately Barcelona know they need to flog De Jong. The Netherlands star already rakes in an eye-watering £354k-a-week, but is due a bumper increase should he enter the fourth year of his contract.
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Though there is another sticking point – should the Catalan club opt to sell, De Jong could be immediately owed £17miliion in waived salary and bonuses.
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