Barcelona president Joan Laporta has set a deadline for his club’s new signings, which could impact Manchester United’s target Frenkie de Jong’s future.
The Netherlands midfielder De Jong has been a target for the Red Devils for a number of weeks. With Erik ten Hag, the new manager at Old Trafford, eager to reconnect with the key member of his Ajax squad. Dealing, however, is proving difficult.
United reportedly reached an initial agreement on a £63 million contract for De Jong. However, the deal’s main roadblock has evolved into the 25-year-deferred old’s wages.
De Jong also prefers to remain at Camp Nou rather than join Manchester United. Therefore, he could accept a pay decrease.
Barcelona sees De Jong as their most marketable asset, so there is an agenda at work above him. Additionally, they require a significant sale to allay their financial worries and, more importantly, to register their new signees.
Laporta, the president of Barcelona, has now disclosed that his club has until August 13 to address their financial situation and formally welcome their new group.
Laporta said: “We are doing everything possible to register the signings. We have to do it before August 13.”
Laporta added that he feels “optimistic” of sorting the club’s finances out.
He said: “Let’s hop that the league sees it that way too.”
Barcelona have spent big this summer to sign Raphinha from Leeds United and Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.