The contract situation of Frenkie de Jong is reportedly creating tension in the Barcelona dressing room amid ongoing speculation over his future.
It comes amid a protracted saga over the player's future with both Manchester United and Chelsea pursuing a transfer. Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag recently instructed the Old Trafford club to remain patient on a deal after holding fresh talks with the player but the Blues are thought to be becoming increasingly confident of securing his signature.
While United have an initial fee in place with the Catalan club over a transfer, which would reunite De Jong with his former Ajax boss Ten Hag, no final agreement is yet in place for a move. With negotiations over that transfer now spanning three months, Chelsea have registered an interest in gazumping any deal. Blues chiefs have made contact with Barca and held discussions with De Jong's representatives and are now strong contenders to sign him from under United's noses.
One of the key reasons that the move has been so protracted is that De Jong is owed €17million in amortizations and back payments by Barca. That is related to the renewed contract he signed with the club in October 2020, under former president Josep Maria Bartomeu – who, alongside the rest of the board, resigned weeks later.
De Jong was one of four players to pen new contracts at that time alongside Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet. Pique has this week accepted a fresh salary reduction with the club while midfielder Sergio Busquets is restructuring his contract. De Jong has rejected the club's request to accept a wage cut, which AS claims has caused tension in the dressing room.
Barcelona are reportedly considering taking legal action over De Jong's contract after asking him to take a pay cut, while also examining the deals of Ter Stegen and Lenglet. The Catalan giants have been unable to register their five new signings and two contract renewals this summer with La Liga and have been told to reduce their financial outgoings.
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De Jong is Barca's highest earning player and is also owed an additional €17million in unpaid wages. The player's agents Ali Dursun and Hasan Centikaya met with Barca chiefs on Wednesday last week and are urging the Dutch midfielder to push to be paid what monies he is owed.
Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde have all joined Barca's ranks this summer, but none will be available for selection until La Liga inform them that their contracts are viable with the club's financial situation. The same registration issue applies to Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto, who both signed new contracts after their previous deals expired.
