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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

Barcelona ease financial issues amid Manchester United interest in Frenkie de Jong

Barcelona have eased their financial concerns amid Manchester United pushing to sign Frenkie de Jong this summer.

De Jong, 25, remains the priority target for Erik ten Hag after United struck up deals for Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez as part of the rebuild. However, their ongoing pursuit of De Jong has not been plain-sailing despite the clubs having agreed a fee for the player last month.

Pushes to move De Jong on from the Nou Camp are understood to have been borne out of the Blaugrana's financial concerns. But while that transfer saga rumbles on, the cash-strapped Catalan side have rubber-stamped incomings of their own, including Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.

READ MORE: Ten Hag sends message to board over transfers

Last month, the Spaniards announced new investment from Sixth Street, who have specialist experience in sports and media, over broadcasting rights. As part of that agreement, Barcelona generated €267million in capital gains in exchange for Sixth Street receiving 10 per cent of the club's La Liga TV rights over the next 25 years.

As part of the deal, Sixth Street invested an initial €207.5million and that figure has now been increased significantly.

Indeed, owing to a second transaction, an additional 15 per cent has been sold to the company, meaning the cut is 25 per cent in total moving forward over the same time-frame. Barcelona have not confirmed the figure exchanged for this new share, but based on the initial agreement it would stand at over €400million.

Reports suggest one of the hold-ups with regards to De Jong and his prospective transfer to United is over wages, which he agreed to freeze during the Covid-19 pandemic. United have been in discussions over the former Ajax star for the best part of three months.

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