Barcelona plan on using the money from Frenkie de Jong’s sale on Premier League duo

Less than a month ago, the very idea of Frenkie de Jong leaving Barcelona seemed absurd. The Dutchman finally seemed to have found his stride under Xavi and finished the season on a high note in terms of performances.

However, it seems that the Catalans’ economic situation forces his departure. De Jong is one of the few players Laporta can look to cash in on for a large sum, and a move to Manchester United is growing as a possibility.

According to reports from SPORT, Barcelona have already decided where they will use the money from de Jong’s transfer. The club aim to use the funds so obtained on the signings of Ruben Neves from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Raphinha from Leeds United.

The former would be a recruitment aimed at strengthening the defensive midfield and providing Sergio Busquets with some much-needed competition.

He started 31 league games for Wolves in their recent Premier League season, scoring four goals and providing two assists. Moreover, he averages close to eight defensive actions per ninety minutes.

Meanwhile, Raphinha promises to be a direct replacement for the departing Ousmane Dembele. In 34 league starts for Leeds, he scored 11 goals and provided three assists last season.

Manchester United are said to have made an official opening bid of €60 million for the youngster with an additional €10 million in add-ons. However, the Blaugranas have rejected the offer and demand a higher figure for their stance.

De Jong’s departure now seems to be just a matter of time. While the club will certainly look to put the acquired funds to the best possible use, there is little doubt that they will be losing a gem of a player in the process.