Despite having returned to the field for quite a while now, the FC Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has still not been able to impress in Hansi Flick’s team.
The Dutchman himself admitted during the last international break that he was not yet back at his 100%, and this lack of fitness is also quite apparent whenever the midfielder steps on the pitch. In this situation, he is not an automatic starter for Flick, and his future at the Blaugrana club is also coming under increased doubt.
Although Frenkie was considered to be one of the cornerstones of this Barcelona team, SPORT reports that this is no longer the case, as the Catalans are considering several options regarding his future at the moment.
Previously, the preferred option for the Blaugranes was to renew the midfielder, as Deco himself considered him to be a fundamental piece for the club’s sporting project before his ankle injury.
However, the new offer that he had received from Barcelona has already expired, and the Catalans believe negotiations should restart from zero as De Jong’s status in the team has changed.
Still, Barcelona do not want to reach the final year of De Jong’s contract, 2026, without having reached a renewal agreement.
But as arriving on a renewal seems quite complicated, the Catalans will put him on the market and can let him leave for very low fees, or even for free. A €20 million offer for Frenkie would be very satisfactory for the Blaugranes.
There is no doubt that the Dutchman has a value significantly higher than this amount, but his wages are a big problem for Barcelona, as he is currently costing the club around €35 million every year, including his wages, amortization, and deferred payments.
Similarly, several other options have emerged in the midfield, which also cut down on the importance of the €60m-rated Dutchman for his team.
Casado and Pedri are fixed starters, while Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez, and Gavi are all options for the three midfield spots, while Marc Bernal is also a long-term player for the Barcelona midfield. Thus, it remains to be seen how Frenkie’s future will turn out beyond this season.
