Feeling relaxed, Frenkie? De Jong unwinds with team-mate Memphis Depay on a boat in Barcelona… with the Dutch midfielder digging his heels in to stay at the Nou Camp – despite £71.5m offer being accepted by cash-strapped Catalans!
- Frenkie de Jong relaxes with Barcelona and Holland team-mate Memphis Depay
- De Jong has been the subject of a high-profile saga with Manchester United
- The Red Devils have now agreed a deal for the midfielder, their primary target
- But with the switch not complete, the Blaugrana may not take him on pre-season
- De Jong does not want to leave the club and he is owed £17m in deferred wages
Manchester United’s primary summer transfer target Frenkie de Jong has been unwinding with fellow Holland international Memphis Depay ahead of Barcelona’s pre-season tour of the US.
Whilst the rest of the footballing world is awaiting the outcome of United’s most recent bid, de Jong took to Instagram to share a video of the pair diving into the sea, whilst United flop Depay posted a photo of the pair relaxing on his twitter.
But despite his social media posts, there is nothing relaxed about his immediate future amid an ongoing stand-off with Barcelona over the Premier League side’s latest approach.
Frenkie de Jong holidays with Manchester United flop Memphis Depay amid United bids
De Jong shared a video on his Instagram of the pair diving from a boat
The Red Devils have agreed a £63million fee with Barcelona for their No.1 summer transfer target, which could rise by another £8.5m in add-ons.
The sale of De Jong will give Barcelona a huge financial boost in their bid to get the go-ahead from La Liga to sign and register new players but the 25-year-old Dutch international does not want to leave the club.
Barca have told him they cannot pay him the money his contract stipulates he should earn next season.
However, De Jong is owed £17m in deferred wages by Barca, and United believe that’s the reason for the hold-up rather than any reluctance on the player’s part to move to England and are considering leaving him out of their upcoming tour.
Barcelona know any threats of freezing him out of the pre-season tour could leave them open to accusations of illegally denying an employee the right to do his job.
Barcelona set off for the US on Saturday with games against Inter Miami, New York Red Bull, Juventus and Real Madrid lined up.
The midfielder is being pressured to leave the club, with Manchester United agreeing a deal
United CEO Richard Arnold (above) was pictured in Spain attempting to wrap up the transfer
It’s understood that United won’t give up the chase for the 25-year-old midfielder even if takes until after the new season starts. The transfer window closes on September 1.
United accept there may come a point when they will have to accept defeat over signing De Jong and have a number of alternatives in mind, including Ruben Neves of Wolves.
Wolves are willing to sell the Portugal midfielder this summer, and have put a £70m price on his services, which no club has yet been prepared to pay.
De Jong, seen in training this week, is in a stand-off with his club over £17m in deferred wages
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