Manchester United are exploring avenues to potentially lower Frenkie de Jong’s hefty €100 million price tag by offering some of their star players as part of the deal with Barcelona.
Despite being United’s prime transfer target since Erik ten Hag assumed the managerial role in 2022, De Jong had previously expressed a strong desire to remain at Barcelona, where he has been a key figure. However, recent developments suggest a shift in his stance, as he has yet to commit to a contract extension offered to him in November, prompting speculation about his future.
With United mindful of adhering to Financial Fair Play regulations, utilizing players as makeweights in the deal could be an attractive option. Although Barcelona is in need of funds, their financial constraints limit their ability to recruit new talent freely.
The Daily Express’ Archie Griggs suggests that United could attempt to negotiate a lower fee by including one or two players in the deal. Among the potential candidates mentioned are Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Scott McTominay, whose collective market value according to FootballTransfers’ algorithm amounts to €96.8 million, nearly offsetting De Jong’s asking price entirely. However, Barcelona may opt to accept only one player, with the remainder of the fee paid in cash.
Greenwood, Sancho, and Antony offer versatility as wingers, which could alleviate some of the attacking burden on Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona. While Antony has struggled to make an impact at United this season, Greenwood and Sancho have shown promising signs of resurgence at Getafe and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.
Meanwhile, McTominay could potentially fill the midfield void left by De Jong’s departure at Barcelona. However, there are uncertainties surrounding Casemiro’s future at Old Trafford, particularly with the incoming minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, having previously criticized his signing.