Manchester United are said to be closing in on the signing of Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona with a ‘95% probability’ of a deal being completed, according to reports in Spain.
United have been linked with a move to sign De Jong since the announcement of Erik ten Hag’s impending arrival as manager, with the midfielder having flourished under the guidance of his compatriot at Ajax.
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De Jong starred for the Ajax side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2018/19, before leaving for Barcelona in a deal worth €75m that summer.
The 25-year-old has since underwhelmed in Catalonia and despite public insistence from the Barcelona hierarchy that he remains a part of the club’s plans, the often reliable Barcelona based journalist, Gerard Romero, is reporting the La Liga side are prepared to cash in this summer.
☎️ NOTICIA @jijantesfc
Antes del final de liga y con un 95% de probabilidades, Frenkie De Jong va a ser traspasado al Manchester United. Es un tema económico puro y duro. El Barça necesita vender un jugador que en el club no ha sido top
Lo ampliamos en https://t.co/ddsJTtAFRd
— Gerard Romero (@gerardromero) May 11, 2022
Romero has revealed that Barcelona’s financial issues are likely to lead to De Jong’s sale, with a move to Manchester United worth between €70m (£59.8m) and €80m (£68.4m) mooted.
Romero has made bold claims over the probability of a deal being completed, insisting there is a ‘95%’ chance that De Jong will follow former boss Ten Hag to the Premier League.
“Before the end of the league and with a 95% probability, Frenkie De Jong will be transferred to Manchester United,” he wrote on his Twitter.
“It is a pure economic issue. Barça needs to sell a player who has not been top at the club.
“The operation would be closed for between €70 and €80m.
“We are on May 11 and the situation can still change. At the club they are clear that if he continues for one more season and the player does not explode, he will lose value and Barça will lose money.”
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