Barcelona midfielder’s future ‘up in the air’ despite Laporta’s claims – report

Frenkie de Jong’s future has been up in the air with conflicting news and quotes emerging all around. According to Javi Miguel of AS, the midfielder’s future at FC Barcelona is still as uncertain as it has been throughout this transfer window.

This comes as a shock as earlier on Wednesday Barça president Joan Laporta said de Jong will remain at the club, as long as the wage situation allows, and that the Dutchman was ‘untransferable’.

But with strong interest from Manchester United and the ex-Ajax ace’s reluctance to lower his wages, his future at Camp Nou remains unclear.

The 25-year-old midfielder is yet to return to pre-season training as his vacation period goes on longer due to his involvement in the UEFA Nations League with the Netherlands at the beginning of the summer.

De Jong has been linked with a move to Manchester United since the very beginning of the transfer window, as the English giants club looks to secure their midfield for the future under new manager Erik Ten Hag.

Ten Hag has reportedly told the club to do everything in their power to make the Dutchman a United player before the start of the season. The former Ajax boss has had his eyes set on de Jong since his announcement as Manchester United’s new manager.

Manchester United have reportedly offered Barça a transfer fee of €65 million plus €22 million in add-ons. However, Barça will only agree if the Red Devils offer €75 million in fixed payment plus €12 million. De Jong and ten Hag are believed to have been in constant contact throughout.

It has been suggested that Laporta’s comments may have been merely an attempt to pressurize United into making the deal, while also pressurising de Jong into reconsidering his stance over the wage reduction if he wants to remain with the Catalan giants.