Manchester United ‘are not giving up’ on Frenkie de Jong and may travel to Barcelona this week to try and persuade the Dutch midfielder on the move.
That’s according to Sport, who say the next few days will be ‘decisive’ to determining the Dutchman’s future.
They explain that Manchester United have been left as De Jong’s ‘only escape route’ from the Nou Camp should Barcelona try to force him out again.
United are ‘convinced’ that there are ‘real options’ to close the deal as the Catalans are continuing to insist he cannot stay at the club under the current conditions as his contract is well above the club’s new wage scale.
His entourage have warned him that he needs to lower his salary or open to accepting a proposal elsewhere.
Chelsea, despite showing an interest, have not made a move to sign the Dutchman.
Thus, United are ‘looking for a meeting’ in the final days of the window, looking to take advantage of the ‘open crisis’ between the player and his club.
They believe there could be a ‘summit’ in the middle of the week.
Barcelona have been clear that they would be ‘willing to give De Jong a way out’ and are hoping that the player will agree to negotiate.
They also sense Manchester United’s ‘insistence’ must be supported by some kind of conversation with the player and his entourage.
At the moment De Jong seems to be sticking to his decision to stay at the Nou Camp and not reduce his salary by even one euro, but it remains to be seen if he will stick by that or if it is a negotiating strategy for the end of the market.
Barcelona, though, could do with sealing a departure so they can reduce the wage bill and finalise their own business, something Manchester United are hoping to take advantage of.
