Barcelona put €80 million valuation on Manchester United target

Barcelona are in the need of making a few big sales this summer in order to get themselves in a solid position to invest in new players ahead of the next season.

Philippe Coutinho has already been sold to Aston Villa for a fee of €20 million, and if widespread reports are believed midfielder Frenkie de Jong could be the next one to make his way out of Barcelona.

The 25-year-old’s future has been a topic of intense transfer speculation for a long time now. And even though manager Xavi Hernandez insists that the Dutchman has a place in his side, the club legend has acknowledged that the club’s financial situation could force a sale.

Manchester United have been showing a strong interest in de Jong as their new manager, Erik ten Hag, is keen on a reunion. The Dutch tactician worked with the midfielder at AFC Ajax and got the best out of him, before his transfer to Catalonia.

Ten Hag is pushing for Manchester United to raid Barcelona for de Jong. At the same time, Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have also entered the race to sign the 25-year-old, reports Mundo Deportivo.

Fresh after retaining the services of Kylian Mbappe, the French heavyweights are pushing to add more quality to their roster and see the Barça mainstay as a viable target for the upcoming transfer window.

And, the report states that the Blaugrana will demand a minimum of €80 million for de Jong amidst the strong interest from Manchester United and PSG.

Reports in France also indicate that de Jong himself could be open to the prospect of moving to Parc des Princes, as he would be ‘delighted’ to play with Mbappe, following the confirmation of his contract extension.

The €80 million valuation should not be an issue for Manchester United or PSG if they are serious about adding de Jong to their roster. The latter might have an advantage, though, given that they will be playing Champions League football, unlike United.