Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is at the top of Manchester United’s summer transfer shortlist - and they have been given a boost by the Catalan club’s own list of transfer targets.
Barca boss Xavi is pursuing five players to bolster his squad’s ranks ahead of next season as they look to establish themselves as challengers on the European front to add to their domestic successes this campaign.
The club are looking at United’s Manchester rivals, City, with midfielders Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva said to be on their wish list. That suggests that Barca are not fully counting on the future of De Jong at the club and could feasibly lead to a summer exit.
The Dutchman is not interested in leaving Camp Nou despite interest from United, but that situation could change over the coming months. United boss Erik ten Hag keen to bolster his midfield ranks. He believes the Dutchman would be the perfect accompaniment for Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, of whom De Jong is a huge admirer.
United had an initial transfer fee of £56.2million agreed with Barca last summer to sign the 25-year-old, but no deal came to fruition as the player wished to remain at Camp Nou. De Jong remains the highest-earning player at the Catalan giants.
De Jong has increasingly been at odds with the club's board this season, including criticising them for leaking his contract details last summer. He has refused Barca’s latest attempt to persuade the midfielder to reduce his salary.
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Barca’s established interest in Man City midfielder Gundogan is linked to the future of De Jong, while their monitoring of his City teammate Silva could also be viewed as replacing the Dutchman in the long-term.
The club already have Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Pedri as central midfield options alongside Franck Kessie and the emergence of youngster Pablo Torre. De Jong remains an important player but he could be viewed as dispensable by Barca in this context.
United boss Ten Hag said of De Jong ahead of facing Barcelona last month in the Europa League knockout stage: “In 2019, there was a lot of fascination with that Ajax team. Frenkie brought a lot of that fascination and he has developed over the following years in Spain.
“He's a fantastic player and has become even better. Playing out from the back, he always has time. It was a pleasure working with him. He would strengthen any squad in the world. He's got unique quality.”
De Jong played both games for the Blaugrana as they were eliminated from the Europa League and there is a belief in the United camp that the midfielder seeing directly the level of United and the feel-good factor around Old Trafford could help persuade him in a future approach.
