Man Utd receive mixed Frenkie de Jong news as 'Barcelona raise transfer suspicions'

Frenkie de Jong’s relationship with Barcelona seems to be on the rocks, but not for reasons that would please Manchester United. The Red Devils have been repeatedly linked with De Jong since Erik ten Hag targeted him when he took over in 2022.

The Dutch duo previously worked together at Ajax – a common theme in five of Ten Hag’s signings at Old Trafford. A transfer fee was agreed with Nou Camp chiefs two years ago, but De Jong chose to remain in Spain.

His financially troubled employers have found it difficult to offload him as they’d planned because he’s their top earner and under contract until 2026. The 27-year-old has repeatedly ignored requests to renegotiate for a lower wage, causing constant irritation for the club.

According to AS, they suspect he’s biding his time to leave as a free agent at the end of his deal – which would put him in a strong position to secure another hefty salary. There are also increasing grumbles about De Jong’s injury status.

He suffered an ankle injury during April’s El Clasico, with a projected recovery time of six to eight weeks. However, De Jong missed Euro 2024 with the Netherlands and returned from his holiday unfit and with a swollen foot, it’s claimed in the report.

Four months have elapsed and he’s not expected back before the September international break, leaving Barca “bewildered” by his attitude compared to his team-mates. In stark contrast, Pedri has made a speedy recovery from the knee injury he sustained while playing for Spain in Germany, putting himself in contention for the start of the La Liga season.

United could potentially capitalise on these issues to negotiate a deal before the summer transfer window closes on August 30. However, concerns about De Jong’s attitude and his injury record do not align with the transfer strategy adopted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s team this summer.

The signings of Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui seem to have been made with a long-term view, adopting a more sensible approach than that used under the Glazers’ reign.

Not only would De Jong be unable to make an immediate impact due to his current issue, but Barcelona’s complaints about his commitment do not bode well for the future. Ill-discipline and being prone to injuries are traits that have troubled United teams in recent years, which is perhaps why other targets like PSG’s Manuel Ugarte have been considered this summer.