Pep Guardiola has a clear objective for the next summer market to find a luxury companion for Rodrigo Hernández in the midfield , and Manchester City is debating between several options.
Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes have not performed as expected, and the absence of Ilkay Gündogan, who was the captain and brains of the team, has been very noticeable. And precisely, they have thought of a Barça star to fill the enormous void he left.
Let’s talk about Frenkie de Jong , who they tried to recruit in the past, when he was still playing for Ajax Amsterdam . But he ended up opting for the proposal that Josep María Bartomeu presented to him to land at Camp Nou, where he continues to play a year later, and is one of the leaders in the dressing room. Even so, Joan Laporta and Deco are seriously considering the possibility of transferring it, in order to obtain income.
It is not untouchable for Xavi Hernández, who has been frankly disappointed with the level shown by the ’21’, which has been below expectations, and has also accumulated many physical problems throughout the course. In the demarcation it occupies, they have more than enough cash so that their loss is not noticed, and they are open to discussing an agreement with any team that presents an offer that exceeds 80 million euros.
In the Premier League there are several interested in the 27-year-old midfielder, such as Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester United, but Guardiola wants to prevent him from strengthening a direct rival, and hopes that he will end up defending the elastic of the combined ‘skyblue’. Money is not a problem for them, and they can pay without any problem the figure requested by Barça . And of course, the salary that the Dutch phenomenon would demand.
De Jong would be guaranteed a very important role in the lineups , and one of the highest fees in the squad, being only behind Erling Braut Haaland on the salary scale.
De Jong, more outside than inside Barça
De Jong is one of the figures who right now seems to be more outside than inside Barça , as is the case with Ronald Araújo, Raphinha Dias or Robert Lewandowski, who are also on the list of transferables drawn up by Laporta.
Source: El Nacional
