There is a difference of around £17m between Manchester United and Barcelona's valuation of Frenkie de Jong
(Image credit: Getty)
Manchester United are at a deadlock in their negotiations for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, with the two clubs around £17 million apart in their valuation of the player.
The Netherlands international is United’s number one target, as Erik ten Hag looks to begin his squad rebuild by bringing in one of his former Ajax players.
However, the Telegraph reports that there is a significant gap between the sums being offered and demanded for the playmaker.
(Image credit: Getty)
Barca want to bring in at least €86m (£73.8m) for De Jong, the same amount they paid for him from Ajax in 2019.
But United value him at around €65m (£55.8m), and there is yet to be a breakthrough in talks.
A report in the Guardian says that the Manchester club remain confident Barca will lower their demands.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
A lack of competition for the Dutchman’s signature and the Spanish club’s difficult financial situation could force their hand, with United said to be poised to make a bid worth around €70m plus add-ons.
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Three midfielders have left Old Trafford this summer at the end of their contracts: Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata.
Ten Hag is yet to be given any replacements for the trio, but the signing of free agent Christian Eriksen has been touted as a possibility.
Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.
