Senior Manchester United figures Richard Arnold and John Murtough have flown to Barcelona in the hope to convince Frankie de Jong to join Manchester United. The pursuit of the Dutch midfielder has been on the club’s target since the end of the season.
The 25-year-old is Erik ten Hag’s summer transfer priority. However, any potential deal is being hampered by a contractual issue involving De Jong and Barcelona.
The problem centers on wages De Jong deferred during the pandemic which are due to be repaid over four years. The Barcelona playmaker delayed receiving the funds to help the financially troubled Catalan club and the money would have been given back throughout a new four-year contract that is about to take effect.
De Jong is however not willing to leave the club given what he feels he is owed. Manchester United have consistently stressed they have alternatives should their attempts to sign the former Ajax man prove unsuccessful.
However, the fact chief executive Arnold and football director Murtaugh have chosen to fly in for face-to-face talks with Barca officials underlines the desire to sign De Jong.
Under normal circumstances, at least one of them would have been in Thailand, where United begin their pre-season preparations against Liverpool on Tuesday.