Frenkie de Jong’s agent has reportedly told Manchester United to give up hope of signing the Dutch midfielder, who is ‘flatly refusing’ to move to Old Trafford this summer.
A report on Thursday confirmed United have reached a full agreement with Barcelona to sign the midfielder.
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The Red Devils have agreed to pay Barcelona a guaranteed fee of €75million (£63million) up front for de Jong with €10million (£8.5million) in potential add-ons.
Barcelona have told De Jong they want him to leave the club, as they need to balance their wage bill, which is causing complications when it comes to registering incomings like Raphinha.
The report says he Catalans are now working to convince the 25-year-old that moving to Old Trafford ‘would be the best move for his career’, insisting his departure is due simply to their economic strife.
The situation is complicated by Barcelona owing De Jong a deferred salary payment of €17million, with a further report claimingthe Dutchman ‘wants the issue completely clarified, and if it is not done so to his satisfaction, he is content to defy any attempt to sell him and stay.’
And now Sport (via Express) claim De Jong’s agent, Ali Dursun, has told United chiefs Richard Arnold and John Murtough to give up on the midfielder, who is desperate to avoid a move to United.
ESPN meanwhile claim United are sure De Jong remains ‘open to joining the club’, but also state that Dursun is trying to convince both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea to join the bidding.
The pair have been encouraged as De Jong, though his preference has always been to stay at Barcelona, would rather join a Champions League club if he is forced to leave the Nou Camp.
Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes United should give De Jong an “ultimatum” to avoid further embarrassment as the transfer saga continues to drag.
“It’s going to come to the stage where Man United need to have some self-respect,” Agbonlahor said.
“A club of Man United’s stature, how have they fallen where De Jong has said ‘Let me keep you on hold and make my mind up in a couple of months’. That isn’t how Man United are used to being treated, usually it’s ‘I’ll sign for Man United, let’s get it done’.
“It’s a bit embarrassing for them the longer it goes on, to be honest. Maybe they’ve got to give him an ultimatum…
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