Why Barcelona need to sell Frenkie de Jong NOW
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 27 Oct 2023 19:41 BST
- 9 min read
Frenkie de Jong is set to return from injury to make the Barcelona squad for El Clasico, but could this be one of the last times that the Netherlands international takes part in the great fixture against Real Madrid?
Unlikely as it may seem, the time may be coming for Barca to seriously consider selling the 26-year-old.
Xavi has made it clear how much he loves the former Ajax player and how integral he sees him in the Barcelona team, yet the team’s financial difficulties combined with the emergence of Fermin Lopez as a new sensation at Camp Nou suggests that if a blockbuster bid does arrive, now could be the time to sell a player with a contract until 2026.
With an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) touching €50m, De Jong will struggle to push that figure upwards as his contract enters its last two years, suggesting that this could be the optimum time for Barca to sell while he still retains a high market value.
And on top of that, there is the perfect buyer emerging once again.
Door opening for Man Utd to sign De Jong
Manchester United’s love of De Jong is well established, with manager Erik ten Hag having pursued the player throughout the summer transfer window of 2022.
Assuming the former Ajax boss remains at Old Trafford next summer, he must fancy targeting De Jong once again given Casemiro’s problems this term.
Unlike previous years, he may have the backing to do it. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to complete a buyout of a minority stake of 25%, and while the latest reports suggest this will not be done in time for the January transfer window, it is anticipated it will be done by the summer.
What better way to make a positive impression at Man Utd than by buying the manager exactly the player he has made the supporters dream of?
Firmin vs LaLiga midfielders: 2023/24
Barcelona, meanwhile, appear to have a ready-made replacement for De Jong in the form of 20-year-old Fermin Lopez.
Having made his top-team debut this season, the youngster has two goals to his credit and gave his strongest performance yet on Wednesday as he scored brilliantly and created another in a 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
His performances in LaLiga, too, have been excellent. Indeed, he ranks as the competition’s best central midfielder this season based on SciSports’ date, albeit this comes with the caveat that he has played a limited number of minutes and should not be seen as a definitive ranking.
If he is not yet an immediate threat to De Jong in a starting berth, it may well be that by the end of the season he is, giving both Barcelona and the Dutchman much to ponder ahead of the summer.
