According to a report by Spanish outlet Don Balon, Barcelona have not given up on their pursuit of Frenkie De Jong. But, instead of lodging a bid for him this summer, the La Liga champions are plotting a move for the January transfer window, with an offer worth €40 million on the cards.
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Frenkie De Jong is one of a barrage of midfielders who have been linked with a move to Barcelona this summer. The Blaugrana have been desperate to undergo a midfield overhaul following the departures of Andres Iniesta and Paulinho. With Ivan Rakitic also facing an uncertain future at Camp Nou, the time is right to look towards the future.
And, the future seems to be bright for Dutch wonderkid De Jong, who is hailed as one of the brightest prospects in Netherlands. Creativity and ingenuity aren’t the only two weapons he possesses, with his versatility also making him an asset for any team he represents.
Barcelona have already bolstered their midfield unit this summer by signing Arthur and Arturo Vidal. But, Vidal is only a short-term solution, with Rakitic also approaching the end of their respective peaks. The Catalans thus, need to keep one eye on the future, which is where the interest in De Jong perhaps comes from.
However, Barcelona were pegged back in their bid to sign the 21-year-old, with Ajax closing the door on a possible exit this summer. The player too, confirmed the same despite admitting that he was flattered by the interest in him from Spanish heavyweights.
Barcelona though, have not ceded interest in De Jong just yet, even though reports have suggested that they are identifying possible alternatives. The La Liga champions are confident of sealing a move for the Dutch midfielder in the winter transfer window, and are preparing a €40 million bid to be lodged in January.
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Barcelona view De Jong as the perfect reinforcement to provide a boost to their campaign in league and Europe, and are hopeful that a deal similar to Philippe Coutinho’s, from earlier this year, could be completed.
But, swooping the 21-year-old midfielder from Ajax in the middle of the season will not be easy, especially if Ajax manage to reach the Champions League knockout stages. What does remain certain is that Barcelona are still harbouring hopes of signing De Jong this season, and it remains to be seen if a January move sees the light of the day.