Take a pay-cut or go to United! Barcelona ‘tell Frenkie de Jong to slash his £5m-a-year wages or leave’ after they reach agreement on a £55m transfer fee with Man United… leaving the decision with him
- Man United and Barcelona thrashed out an agreement on De Jong’s transfer fee
- It came after John Murtough and Richard Arnold met Barcelona executives
- Reports in Spain say Nou Camp club have issued midfielder with an ultimatum
- De Jong was told to take a big pay cut if he wanted to stay with Barcelona
- Holland international is Erik ten Hag’s primary transfer target for the summerÂ
Manchester United target Frenkie de Jong ‘has been told to take a substantial pay cut’ if he wants to stay at Barcelona.
After the two clubs agreed a transfer fee for the Dutch midfielder – an initial £55million potentially rising to £72m – it is now up to De Jong to decide where his future lies.
De Jong, 25, is United’s primary transfer target for the summer and he would be reunited with his former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag in Manchester.
Frenkie de Jong has reportedly been told by Barcelona to take a pay cut or leave the club
De Jong plays a pass during his first pre-season training sessions with Barcelona on Tuesday
The Dutch midfielder has been given a choice when it comes to his Barcelona future
New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is keen to bring De Jong to Old Trafford
Reports in Spain suggest that De Jong would like to remain at the Nou Camp but the club’s perilous financial situation has left the door open for a sale.
United chiefs John Murtough and Richard Arnold travelled to Barcelona on Monday and met Barca sporting director Jordi Cruyff, director of football Mateu Alemany and sports vice-president Rafa Yuste at the Triton Restaurante to thrash out an agreement on the price.
Mundo Deportivo report that Alemany and Cruyff, as well as Xavi, sat down with De Jong, 25, ahead of his first training session back and explained the situation.
They reportedly told De Jong that if he wishes he to stay at Barcelona, he will be required to take a significant cut on his £5m-a-year salary.
Another Mundo report suggested De Jong was ‘displeased’ with the way Barcelona have handled the situation.Â
Reports in Spain say De Jong was told he needs to cut his £5million-a-year wagesÂ
The Dutchman returned to training with Barcelona on Monday and was issued the ultimatum
Selling him for the fee agreed would significantly ease Barcelona’s well-documented financial concerns, both in terms of an injection of cash but also reducing the wage bill.
Mundo report that De Jong was told his sale was a purely economic issue and that Xavi considered him an important player.
Chelsea have also been linked with De Jong, and could offer a continuation of Champions League football next season, but it is United who have finally agreed a fee with Barcelona after weeks of negotiations.
Barca boss Xavi (left) wants De Jong’s future sorted before they to go America for pre-season
Xavi is reportedly keen to have the situation resolved before Barcelona fly out to the United States on July 16 for a two-week pre-season tour.
Barcelona paid Ajax around £72m to sign De Jong in the summer of 2019 and he has since played 140 matches for the club.
De Jong would be able to continue playing Champions League football if he finds a way to stay at Barcelona, while United will compete in the Europa League next season.
Ten Hag’s side are currently out in Bangkok as part of their pre-season tour and will face Liverpool in their first friendly on Tuesday.
