Manchester City were reported to have lodged a bid of €85m (£71.3m) to sign Frenkie De Jong from Barcelona, but El Nacional say the 24-year-old has no intention of leaving. De Jong’s future at the Camp Nou was believed to be uncertain due to inconsistent form, but it doesn’t appear he’ll be on his way out any time soon.
Man City are blessed with a strong midfield – Rodri, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan – and can call upon Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva in the makeshift role, so it didn’t make a lot of sense that De Jong was a priority. The Premier League defending champions have a more fervent need to sign a striker after Sergio Aguero was released over the summer.
So now De Jong has made his intentions known, City will have to turn their attentions elsewhere. They’re not short of options in the engine room but are planning for the eventual departure of Fernandinho who will turn 37 in a matter of months and is in the last year of his deal.
Pep Guardiola would like a midfielder that’s composed in possession but also adept at turning over the ball, so it’s easy to see why De Jong was covered. The Netherlands international’s future looks to be at Barcelona for the time being, however.
In other news, Man City ‘interested’ in 18 y/o attacking-midfielder linked with Barcelona