Fabrizio Romano believes that Frenkie De Jong’s salary could hand Manchester United the advantage when it comes to a transfer this summer.
Off the back of the news that United’s second proposal of €65m (£56m) won’t be enough in order to lure the Barcelona midfielder to Old Trafford, Romano has provided an encouraging update.
Indeed Marca claim that United are only £8m away from meeting the Bluagrana’s valuation but the Catalans’ precarious financial situation could benefit the Red Devils and they may get their man for less.
Speaking on The United Stand YouTube channel Romano said:
Do you see De Jong leaving Barcelona for Man Utd?
Yes
No
(5:55)”Man United know that Barcelona need on the financial point of view to sell some players, need that money for Frenkie De Jong and also the key point is about the salary.
“They know that Barcelona have a problem with the salary of Frenkie De Jong because in case he will stay at Barca this summer it will be a problem for them to pay a huge salary to Frenkie De Jong because he has a particular contract and next season the contract will be really really huge and so far the salary situation at Barca this could be an issue.
“This is why Manchester United are going step-by-step in the negotiation.”
TIF Thoughts on De Jong and United…
Will United make the top four next season?
Yes
No
With the Spanish giants ‘terminal’ financial crisis, football director John Murtough and his fellow executives in Manchester should really be striking a very favourable deal for the man Erik ten Hag is keen to reunite with on English soil.
De Jong is currently Barca’s fourth-highest earner on over £265,000k-per-week and it will take his sale and perhaps Ousmane Dembele’s to clear enough space for Xavi to reinvest in his squad with Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha heavily linked with a move to the Camp Nou.
That may well save United a couple of million when it comes to negotiations but more importantly for supporters it does appear that this long-winding saga is coming close to its conclusion.