Manchester United lodge 80m euro opening bid for Frenkie De Jong

Manchester United have lodged an opening offer thought to be comprised of 60m euros and an additional 20m euros in potential add-ons, according to reports in Spain.

The Red Devils are looking to take advantage of Barcelona’s perilous financial situation for swooping for the 24 year old, who shot to stardom under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, and who the new Manchester United boss has made his main priority since arriving at Old Trafford.

Should he join, De Jong would massively add to the quality in the Red Devils’ midfield, with Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic having now left on free transfers, leaving just Fred and Scott McTominay as options in the middle of the pitch.

Manchester United lodge 80m euro opening bid for Frenkie De Jong

BARCELONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 03: Frenkie De Jong of FC Barcelona during a training session at Camp Nou on January 03, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

And, as per Marca, despite De Jong’s desire to remain in Catalonia, should the right bid come in, it will be accepted as Barcelona currently work on deals for up to five players, including two free agents that they cannot yet register due to La Liga regulations.

The Spanish outlet report that such a bid has been made by Manchester United too, claiming that the Red Devils have offered ’60 million fixed plus another 20 in variables’, which are ‘close to the demands of Barcelona’

As a result, it is thought that the club ‘is seriously studying the proposal’. something that is echoed by other Spanish sources.

As per Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, ‘one of the [Barcelona] players’ agents wrote to me that the process of Frenkie with United has begun’.