Barcelona: PSG bid €75 million for Frenkie de Jong

The competition for Frenkie de Jong’s signature continues to heat up.

Frenkie de Jong is currently one of the hottest prospects in football due to the rare skillset he has and his sky-high potential. Barcelona are naturally interested due to how well-suited he is to their style of play, however, there are a number of other big teams circling. A summer move to a big club seems all but inevitable because he has started to outgrow Ajax and the Eredivisie.

According to De Telegraaf, PSG have launched a €75 million bid for De Jong as they aim to strengthen the midfield and finally bring balance to the team. With Thomas Tuchel, they have a forward-thinking, ambitious manager who can bring the best out of him while also guaranteeing him plenty of playing time. Their financial resources mean that Manchester City are the only team that can realistically compete with them in terms of the contract they offer.

There have been a number of reports stating that Barca are prioritising the signing of his teammate Matthijs de Ligt over him due to the greater need for a right-footed centre-back than a deep-lying playmaker. Therefore, they are likely to miss out on the 21-year-old because they will struggle to match the transfer fees from other clubs as well as him to having accept a lower wage due to Barcelona’s high wage bill which leaves little room for manoeuvre.

Barcelona do have alternatives, though. Riqui Puig made his competitive debut against Cultural Leonesa in the midweek fixture to much acclaim due to the maturity of his performance. He is well-equipped to secure a first-team place within the next few seasons. There are also Arthur Melo, Carles Alena and Oriol Busquets all vying for places, so the future seems secure in midfield. It would be a shame for the club to miss out on De Jong, however, placing faith in these La Masia talents is a smart move due to their love for the club as well as their obvious talent.