Manchester United chiefs Richard Arnold and John Murtough have jetted to Barcelona as they look to get a deal for Frenkie de Jong over the line.
The Dutch midfielder has been the club's No 1 transfer target throughout the summer but no agreement has been struck that will take him to Old Trafford. Barcelona are demanding top dollar whilst the player himself is reluctant to go, recently pouring cold water on any move.
The Spanish club do need to balance the books such is their financial situation and the United pair have largely been discussing the £17m in unpaid wages that is still owed to De Jong whilst out in Catalunya. They met with several leading lights at Barcelona: Mateu Alemany, Rafa Yuste and Jordi Cruyff.
According to TalkSport , the outstanding wages remain an issue with club president Joan Laporta recently citing a "salary issue" whilst stating the Dutchman was not for sale. "Frenkie de Jong is a Barcelona player," he said. "We don’t want to sell him unless we have no other choice. Of course we know there are offers for De Jong," he added. "But we don’t want to sell him."
He went on to add: “There are clubs that want him, not just United. We have no intention of selling him, he wants to stay. Frenkie is considered as one of the best midfielders in the world by all the experts. We are happy to have him. I’m going to do everything I can in my power so that Frenkie stays here, but there’s also a salary issue and that would have to be adjusted.”
De Jong's salary payments were deferred in the past as players did their bit to help the club through the pandemic. Those wages are now payable to the player over the duration of his next contract and he feels it would be mad to leave whilst such funds were owed to him.
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United have struggled to get new recruits over the line so far this summer with Tyrell Malacia the only man arriving through the door. Several players have left though, including midfielders Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic, which means Ten Hag is lacking options in the middle of the park.
Arnold was recently filmed discussing a deal for De Jong - he said: "Money is not a consideration on who we want. The manager wants him (De Jong) and they have actually done the work. He's a great player. Is it 100 or 200? I don't know. Get who you f***ing want."
