Barcelona make offer to Frenkie de Jong to complete Manchester United transfer

Barcelona have made an ‘initial offer’ to Frenkie de Jong to resolve a dispute over £17million in unpaid salary payments to the Dutchman.

Manchester United have agreed a £63million deal to sign the Netherlands international but he is refusing to leave the Camp Nou until the Catalans reimburse him for £17m in deferred wages.

De Jong agreed to lower his salary during the coronavirus pandemic to help ease the financial burden on the club but the Catalans promised to pay it back in full over the course of his contract, which runs until 2026.

Barcelona now appear to have reneged on that promise but the Independent say they’ve made an offer to De Jong to pay him a portion of his deferred salary.

The offer is said to be £10m short of the full package that De Jong is owed but it remains to be seen whether he could write off the rest.

De Jong remains keen to stay at the Camp Nou and has regularly described the Catalans as his ‘dream club’.

But Erik ten Hag feels he can persuade the midfielder to move to Old Trafford as he would build his side around the deep-lying playmaker, who he managed for two years at Ajax.

De Jong has been used as a centre-back on Barcelona’s tour of the United States, which has been seen as a decision designed to force the midfielder out of the club.

While Xavi remains an admirer of De Jong, the club must balance the books after signing Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christsensen.

The Catalans remain intent on signing Sevilla defender Jules Kounde but must sell before they can match Chelsea’s £55m offer for the Frenchman.

Xavi also wants to sign Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva – but he’s valued at around £65m by the club.

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