Manchester United could potentially be set to profit from Spanish employment law should they continue their pursuit of Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.
The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the Dutch midfielder for the majority of the summer window, with Erik ten Hag identifying the former Ajax star as a priority signing.
So far, a move to Old Trafford has proven troublesome despite initial thoughts that the Catalans' tricky financial situation would result in them cashing in on De Jong. They have activated a number of financial levers to keep them afloat - something that has allowed them to dip into the market.
Barcelona have already sealed the signings of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde this summer, as well as the free transfers of Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen.
Despite that, De Jong's considerable salary is still causing problems at the Camp Nou but according to Article 41 of the Workers' Statute in Spain, Barcelona could potentially be set to reduce that.
The article states that an employer is able to modify working hours, work schedule, work system and the salary already agreed upon in a certain employee's contract - meaning that they could reduce his pay at any given time.
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However, it is not quite as simple as that. As Barcelona recruit over 300 employees, then the law states that the modifications should affect a minimum of 30 employees in total - an unlikely move to make.
In the meantime, the change has to be communicated to the legal representatives of the employee within 10 days prior to the introduction of the change following an initial consultation period. During that consultation - or resultant arbitration - an agreement has to be found between the employee and the employer.
That is where De Jong and United could come in. The Dutchman could either accept the lower wage, go to a labour court or indeed terminate his contract with the club and then receive 20 days' salary compensation per year of service for 20 months.
Should De Jong go down the third route before the end of the transfer window then that would effectively render him a free agent and available to join the Red Devils. Of course, it appears unlikely that would happen considering his desire to remain at the Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, Barca president Joan Laporta has also expressed his preference to keep De Jong. Speaking in the USA, he said: "He wants to stay and we want him to stay. That is the most important.
"What is clear is that we have a new salary scale and all the players have to fit into it. We are trying to make these players understand the reality of the club. We find ourselves with a salary mass triggered by more than 40 per cent.
"We all have to make an effort. We are going to do everything possible to make him stay and we hope that the player will also do everything possible to stay."
