Barcelona manager Xavi has opened the door to Frenkie de Jong leaving this summer amid long-standing interest from Manchester United.
Speculation over the Netherlands international and his future at the Nou Camp continues to bubble away, after United and Barcelona confirmed an agreement in principle for the transfer. However, since settling on a fee for the player, his prospective move to the Premier League has stalled.
United manager Erik ten Hag wants De Jong and identified the former Ajax playmaker as his main target following his appointment at the Old Trafford helm. United continue to pursue the 25-year-old after striking up business with three other targets this summer.
READ MORE: Barcelona president gives fresh De Jong update
Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez have all signed for the club. Ten Hag continues to chase De Jong, as well as a back-up goalkeeper, to offset Dean Henderson joining Nottingham Forest on loan.
De Jong is currently in the United States with his Barcelona teammates and, so far on tour, the central midfielder has been used as a centre-back option from the substitutes bench. It is a move that baffled United supporters after his latest cameo against Real Madrid on the Las Vegas strip, but Xavi has offered up a reason for that decision.
When pressed on De Jong and his future, Xavi said: "We've had private conversations that are very important and that I will not reveal here. He's a key player, but then there's the economic situation and Financial Fair Play."
Xavi added: "I'm not sending messages to anyone. I like him a lot as a player.
"Playing as a centre-back, he [De Jong] can give us a lot, he can adapt to that position. We want it that the centre-back distributes the ball and he does that very well."
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