Frenkie de Jong will be on the transfer market if he doesn’t agree to reduce his wages, according to reports. Liverpool like the player.
This comes from Sport. They claim that Barcelona will listen to offers for Frenkie de Jong is he doesn’t accept a wage cut this season.
Barcelona desperately need to save money and hope to reduce may wage costs over the next year. Gerard Pique leaving already alleviates pressure, while Sergio Busquets will depart in June.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Jordi Alba will also be presented with new contracts to reduce their wages. De Jong, however, tops the lot.
De Jong actually turned down the proposal last summer. It would have seen him agree to more years but on a reduced wage – but he wasn’t okay with that. Relations between the club and player aren’t good, says the report.
And if he refuses to take a wage cut, Barcelona will listen to offers for him in 2023.
Frenkie de Jong in dispute over wages
ESPN claimed earlier this season that Liverpool like De Jong. They view him as a potential midfield signing and could try to take advantage of his displeasure with Barcelona.
Only this is a bit of a catch-22. The only way Barcelona make him available is if he refuses to reduce his wages but we imagine Liverpool would also want him to reduce his wages. If he’s willing to do that, he’ll likely stay in Catalonia, though.
Of course, he might prefer to play for less money at a club that isn’t struggling as badly as Barcelona. It still feels unlikely that Liverpool can make this one work, though. A full breakdown of his relationship with the club could be the only way it happens.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are unlikely to do anything that rules them out of a move for Jude Bellingham. That includes spending lots on Frenkie de Jong. If they do fail to sign the Englishman, though, a move for De Jong should be high on the agenda.