Manchester United directors have travelled to Barcelona in a bid to find a breakthrough in a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong.
The club’s chief executive officer, Richard Arnold, and director of football John Murtough have travelled to Spain in order to hold face-to-face talks with Barcelona as a potential deal drags on.
United are understood to have agreed an initial fee of €65m (£55m) with Barcelona for the midfielder, with a potential further €20m (€17m) in add-ons.
However, the move has been complicated due to Barcelona’s financial situation with the Catalans reported to owe the 25-year-old around £17m in deferred wages and bonuses, agreed in a bid to help the club combat the cost of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Athletic are reporting that United’s hierarchy have now travelled to Barcelona in a bid to finalise an agreement as the Red Devils look to secure Erik ten Hag’s number one transfer target.
De Jong excelled under Ten Hag’s management at Ajax, forming part of the team that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2018/19, before moving to Barcelona in 2019.
United have made just one signing so far this summer, bringing in Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, and are continuing to work on deals for both De Jong and free agent Christian Eriksen.
