Barcelona president Joan Laporta has provided a telling admission that will have implications on Manchester United’s pursuit of Frenkie de Jong.
Reports in recent days have suggested that the midfielder is closing in on a reunion with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. The Manchester Evening News previously reported that De Jong was the new United manager’s primary target this window.
His pursuit of the player has been helped by Barcelona’s problematic financial situation. The Nou Camp outfit are thought to be €1bn (£850m) in debt and may have to offload a number of big names in order to comply with La Liga’s spending rules.
READ MORE: Manchester United aren't facing same problem with Frenkie de Jong as they had with Sergio Ramos
Senior Barcelona official Eduard Romeu has stated that £426m (€500m) is needed to “save” the Spanish giants, too. It has reportedly opened the door for United to enter talks with De Jong, with the club currently unable to register free agents Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie.
Now, Laporta himself has confirmed that the club may need to offload key personnel to balance the books. He told Barca TV: “If our economic situation requires the sale of an important player, we are ready for that.”
Ten Hag is expected to bring more than one midfielder this summer with a centre-half and an attacking reinforcement also on his wish list.
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