KEY POINTS

  • Frenkie de Jong is contracted with Barca until 2026
  • Man Utd are willing to pay $90 million for the Dutch midfielder
  • Barca have already identified de Jong's replacement

FC Barcelona are reportedly close to reaching an agreement with Manchester United over midfielder Frenkie de Jong’s transfer.

De Jong, who is contracted with Barcelona until 2026, has already begun to negotiate salary with Manchester United ahead of the 2022-23 season, reported The Sport.

The Red Devils made de Jong one of their top targets this summer as their new boss, Erik ten Hag wants to reunite with the Dutchman as the two worked together at Ajax. Ten Hag was Ajax’s manager and de Jong was a part of the side that reached the UEFA Champions League semi-final in the 2018-19 campaign before losing to Spurs.

After Barcelona rejected their initial bid, Manchester United made contact with the Catalans again with a new offer that is expected to be around $90 million (€85 million), according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has a credible record in the European transfer market.

Ronald Koeman: Frenkie wants to continue with Barcelona

While de Jong’s association with Barcelona is set to end, former Blagurna head coach Ronald Koeman has said the Netherlands midfielder wants to continue at Camp Nou.

“All I know is that Frenkie wants to stay at Barca. He said that a few days ago. But I don’t know if Barca want or need to sell him because they need money. He is one of the few for whom a lot of money can be asked,” Koeman said in a recent interview.

Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona
Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's opening goal with team mates during the Supercopa de Espana Semi Final match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at Estadio Nuevo Arcangel on January 13, 2021 in Cordoba, Spain. Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Barcelona sacked Koeman in the middle of last season and brought in Xavi as his replacement.

Meanwhile, the Catalans have agreed to sign Valencia’s Carlos Soler, who they are seeing as de Jong’s replacement. The deal could cost them around $21 million, according to Diario AS. Soler also has just a year left on his contract and Valencia could want to cash in on him this summer.

25-year-old Soler was first linked to Barcelona a few months earlier. However, the rumors stopped when Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva came into the equation. Barcelona head coach Xavi believes that Bernardo is the better for the Camp Nou side, and could recreate a Xavi-Iniesta level of understanding with Pedri in midfield.

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