Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 4:05 PM• Shane Jebbink • Last update: 16:08

According to Gerard Romero, Frenkie de Jong can only stay at Barcelona if he accepts a salary reduction. The journalist and Barça watcher reports this on his twitch channel los Jijantes FC† The Dutchman has been linked with a transfer for several weeks as the Catalans are desperately looking for ways to improve their precarious financial situation. A sale of De Jong would benefit the club, despite the fact that both Xavi and the midfielder himself seem satisfied with the collaboration.

De Jong came over from Ajax in the summer of 2019 for a maximum of 86 million euros. In addition, a contract until 2026 worth 12 million euros net was distributed to the then 22-year-old the Dutch international. That agreed amount still weighs heavily on the budget of Barcelona, ​​which is desperately looking for ways to cut costs. One of the options currently being discussed is a salary cut for De Jong. The midfielder is reportedly not unsympathetic to the salary cut, as he is keen to remain with LaLiga’s number two.

According to Romero, other contract conditions are the only way for De Jong to remain at Barcelona. The club would consider selling the midfielder. Beyond the disappearance of his astronomical salary, that could yield a hefty transfer fee that Barcelona can use for other purposes. Romero previously reported that Barca would be willing to take his loss and say goodbye for at least seventy million euros for fear of a reduction in De Jong’s transfer value. Several clubs have already expressed their interest.

Manchester United, among others, is explicitly mentioned as a new destination. According to Romero, it would even be ’95 percent certain’ that De Jong will leave for the English superpower, although the English-speaking branch of ESPN that emphatically. De Jong would prefer to stay in Camp Nou anyway, as transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano also emphasized earlier this month. If De Jong did leave, he would aim for a club that will play in the Champions League next season; Manchester United do not meet that criterion.

Another club with interest, Manchester City, could be a more attractive option. In 2019 had the Citizens Already interested in De Jong, who then chose to exchange Ajax for Barcelona. Josep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has been described as an ‘admirer’ of De Jong. Although the wealthy superpower already pulled the wallet for Erling Braut Haaland last week, reports ESPN that they are not yet ready for the transfer market. Partly due to the imminent departure of Fernandinho, there is room for reinforcements in midfield.