Bayern Munich ‘targeting move for Frenkie de Jong’ as they look to exploit cash-strapped Barcelona’s need to raise funds despite midfielder being tied down at Nou Camp until 2026
- Frenkie de Jong is attracting heavy interest from German giants Bayern Munich
- They wanted him in 2019, but are now eyeing a move just one year later
- Barcelona will be forced to raise funds amid the financial turmoil at the club
- The club’s debt had more than doubled to £440m amid the coronavirus crisis
Bayern Munich are interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong amid the financial turmoil at the Nou Camp, according to reports.
The Bundesliga giants were in hot pursuit of the Holland star in 2019 but Barcelona won the race for his signature in a £65million move after emerging as one of the best talents around with Ajax.
But according to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Bayern will go back in for De Jong as they look to continue their domestic and European dominance by strengthening their squad.
Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are eyeing a move for Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong
De Jong is tied down at the Nou Camp until 2026 after signing a contract extension in October this year, but Barcelona run the risk of being forced to sell some of their star assets amid the financial crisis at the club.
In October, Barcelona released a grim set of economic figures, showing a loss of £88m in the financial year, while the club’s net debt had more than doubled to £440m amid the coronavirus crisis.
Barcelona have been desperately searching for ways to ease their financial troubles and just recently reached an agreement in principle with their players to implement wage cuts which will save the club a staggering £109m.
Bayern were interested in De Jong in 2019 but Barcelona won the race for his signature
Talks had been ongoing for months for squad-wide wage cuts amid the financial turmoil caused by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with manager Ronald Koeman taking a cut on his £10m-a-year salary.
And Barca finally announced an agreement had been reached which will save £109m – yet with the club also deferring £45m of variable payments over a three-year period on top of that, it still falls short of the £170m figure the club has long been targeting to save via player salaries.
So, Bayern will be hoping to exploit the financial chaos in Barcelona by making another move for De Jong.
Ronald Koeman has a job on his hands to keep his star assets amid the financial chaos at Barca
Their double pursuit of the 23-year-old and his former Ajax team-mate Matthijs de Ligt in the summer of 2019 came to nothing as the latter ended up joining Juventus.
And it has been reported Barcelona are aware that Bayern have already been in contact with De Jong’s agent, Ali Dursun, to let him know that they would be willing to talk about a potential move if there was the possibility he could leave.
Bayern would reportedly look to discuss a fee with Barcelona similar to what they paid Ajax (£65m) in the summer of 2019.
Hansi Flick is desperate to continue Bayern Munich’s domestic and European dominance
