Frenkie de Jong now willing to join European giants amid Man Utd transfer delay

Frenkie de Jong is prepared to join Bayern Munich this summer if Manchester United cannot convince him to head for the Premier League.

United have reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign the Netherlands international for €75m (£63.7m) up front plus a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons.

De Jong however has not publicly stated that he wishes to leave his ‘dream’ club and has travelled with Barcelona’s squad for their pre-season tour of the United States.

Erik ten Hag has instructed United to continue pushing to sign the 25-year-old but reports in Spain continue to insist de Jong does not want to leave the Camp Nou.

Barcelona remain under financial pressure however and are eager to remove de Jong, one of their top earners, from their wage bill.

Chelsea are also said to have shown interest in the former Ajax star but Sport claim de Jong is not keen on a move to Stamford Bridge and would only consider a ‘sensational’ offer from the Blues.

The report adds however that de Jong is very open to the idea of playing in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, where he would regularly challenge for major honours while also remaining closer to his homeland.

There is also the added incentive of the chance to reunite with former Ajax teammate and friend Matthijs de Ligt, who is thought to be close to joining the German champions.

De Ligt and de Jong were the two stars of ten Hag’s Ajax side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, moving on to join Juventus and Barcelona respectively that summer.

There is a major stumbling block however with the relationship between Barcelona and Bayern soured due to the former’s pursuit of Robert Lewandowski.

The 34-year-old has agreed to join Barcelona with Bayern said to be unhappy with how the Spanish side approached the striker while he still at 12 months left on his deal at the Allianz Arena.

United have not given up hope of signing de Jong with CEO Richard Arnold and director of football John Murtough meeting with Barcelona officials in the city last week.

The club have wrapped up deals for Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen this summer with an announcement over the signing of Lisandro Martinez thought to be imminent.

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