Barcelona ready to pay €18 million for midfielder’s summer exit – report

Barcelona have made a significant offer to Frenkie de Jong, as revealed by FootballTransfers.

According to the outlet, the club is willing to pay De Jong his deferred wages, which total €18 million, but only if he agrees to leave the team in the upcoming summer transfer window.

This move is part of Barcelona’s ongoing efforts to manage their finances more effectively, allowing them to potentially pursue high-profile signings like Erling Haaland or Viktor Gyokeres.

De Jong has always viewed Barcelona as his dream club and has never shown any desire to leave. However, this situation might now push him to reconsider his future.

Highest earner

The Dutch midfielder played a crucial role during the pandemic, deferring a large part of his wages to help Barcelona handle its financial challenges.

Despite this, his contract runs until 2026, and he is the highest-paid player at the club, earning a hefty €1.1 million per week, including bonuses.

Barcelona, however, see an opportunity to reduce their financial strain by letting De Jong go. There are multiple reasons behind this decision. First, the club has a group of young midfielders coming through, all of whom have shown tremendous promise.

More competition in midfield

The likes of Fermin Lopez, Marc Casado, Pedri, Guille Fernandez, Gavi, and Pablo Torre are all seen as potential future stars, making the competition for a place in the starting lineup even more intense.

Moreover, Barcelona also have Dani Olmo and Marc Bernal who could fill De Jong’s role in the long term. Adding to this, De Jong has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, which might make it harder for him to secure a regular spot in the team.

Ultimately, Barcelona’s desire to offload De Jong stems from their well-known financial troubles. The club has been dealing with mounting debts and wage deferrals since the pandemic, and freeing up De Jong’s significant wages would provide much-needed relief for the Catalan side.