Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists his club do not want to sell Frenkie de Jong this summer, despite talks with Manchester United regarding a potential deal.
Erik ten Hag has identified the Dutch midfielder as his top target in the summer transfer window, and the Manchester Evening News revealed last week that United had agreed a deal in principle to sign De Jong this summer. United's protracted eight-week pursuit of De Jong is still expected to be finalised in a €65million (£56.14m) deal plus add-ons and it is understood the initial fee will be paid in instalments.
Spanish sources have told the Manchester Evening News that the 25-year-old has accepted he will have to leave Barcelona and Laporta is waiting for the transfer to go through before sanctioning moves in the market.
READ MORE: United have agreed deal in principle to sign De Jong
However, it appears the Barca president is growing frustrated by the time taken for a deal to be completed by recent comments suggesting the Dutch international could still remain at the club beyond the summer window.
When quizzed at new signing Franck Kessie's unveiling for the latest on De Jong, Laporta said: “Frenkie de Jong is Barcelona player - we don’t want to sell him unless we have no other choice”.
“Of course, we know there are offers for de Jong — but we don’t want to sell him”.
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