Frenkie de Jong is NOT for sale! Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists the cash-strapped club ‘don’t want to transfer’ the Dutch midfielder to Manchester United despite their financial issues
- Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted Frenkie de Jong, 25, is not for sale
- The Dutch midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United
- Last week, Sportsmail reported a transfer to Old Trafford was 90 per cent done
- But club chief Laporta has doubled down on his stance to prevent a departure
- The news comes despite the Catalan giants’ well-publicised financial problems
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has doubled down on the club’s Frenkie de Jong stance – insisting he is not for sale despite transfer interest from Manchester United.
Last week Sportsmail reported a deal for the Dutch midfielder was 90 per cent complete.
But club chief Laporta has claimed the Catalan giants do not want to transfer him away, seemingly signalling he will be a big part of Xavi‘s side in the upcoming season.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 25, is not for sale
Club chief Laporta (left) doubled down on his stance to keep de Jong while unveiling the signing of midfielder Franck Kessie (right) from AC Milan on a free transfer on Wednesday
He said in a press conference presenting new signing Franck Kessie: ‘Frenkie is not for sale. He is a Barcelona player. We don’t want to transfer him.’
Midfield playmaker De Jong is top of new United manager Erik ten Hag’s transfer shortlist this summer as he looks to radically overhaul the Red Devils squad.
The Dutchman plans to use the 25-year-old Holland international as the anchor of his midfield.
Sportsmail sources indicated an agreement between United and Barcelona is for the Holland star is ’90 per cent’ complete with just the finer details of the deal left to iron out.
The news will come as a blow to United boss Erik ten Hag, who sees De Jong as a top priority
It is understood United would pay around an initial £55million to the Spanish club for De Jong, the fee potentially rising to close to £70m.
Sportsmail reported De Jong was open to signing for United and agreeing personal terms with the Dutchman was unlikely to be a problem.
Indeed,…