Barcelona could reportedly to be forced into selling star midfielder Frenkie de Jong amid financial troubles, with Bayern Munich waiting to pounce.
According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona may be forced to part ways with Frenkie de Jong in the near future as the club battles with financial difficulties. And if that comes to fruition, reigning German and European champions Bayern Munich are waiting in the wings to swoop for the Dutch midfielder.
It is no secret that finances at Barcelona have taken a serious hit over the past months due to the coronavirus pandemic, as they have at many other clubs across the world. The Catalans have been trying to reduce their wage commitments for months now and were able to agree on a pay-cut with the players last month.
Despite that, things are still looking gloomy for the Blaugrana on the financial front, with there being still no certainty over when fans can be allowed back into Camp Nou. This may force their hand into cashing in on their top assets to balance the books to an extent. And, de Jong, who is one of the few players who can command a huge transfer fee, could be shown the doors.
De Jong moved to Barcelona from Dutch heavyweights Ajax in the summer of 2019, in a deal worth €75 million plus €11 million in add-ons, and has since grown into a key player for the club.
The 23-year-old has racked up 57 appearances for the Catalans, bagging two goals and five assists so far, missing just one game in all competitions since Ronald Koeman took over the reins at Camp Nou earlier this year.
It is claimed that record-German champions Bayern Munich are long-term admirers of de Jong and were keen on signing him from Ajax before he moved to Barcelona. However, they have continued to keep tabs on the midfielder and have kept in contact with his agent, letting him know that they will be interested should an opportunity arise.
De Jong penned a new contract with Barcelona as recent as October earlier this year, extending his stay at the club till 2026. It is believed that the new deal consists of a release clause worth €400 million. However, should the possibility of a sale arise, the Blaugrana would look for a fee close to what they paid to secure his transfer from Ajax.
Bayern Munich lost their midfield linchpin, Thiago Alcantara, to Liverpool earlier this year while Corentin Tolisso’s injury issues continue to be a concern. Moreover, with the latter’s contract expiring in eighteen months, a new midfielder could be needed at the Allianz Arena shortly, making de Jong a viable target.
It remains to be seen how this intriguing story develops in the coming weeks as Barcelona look to navigate through troubled waters without losing one of the most important players. However, if things don’t improve on the financial front, de Jong could end up being on the move to Germany.
