Could Barcelona swap Frenkie de Jong for Man City's Bernardo Silva?
The saga surrounding Frenkie de Jong is set to head into the final weeks of the transfer window, as Barcelona are still keen on selling the player, but he may not be going to Manchester United.
The Red Devils have been keen on signing the player, as Erik ten Hag has made him a priority for his midfield, but there are still doubts over De Jong’s willingness.
Manchester United and Barcelona have agreed a fee for the player, but the deal has not been completed yet due to De Jong’s deferred wage situation, as he is owed money after he postponed payments from the club.
That has opened the door for other suitors, with Chelsea reportedly keen, but they may also face competition from Premier League champions Manchester City, who are exploring the possibility of a deal.
Could a swap deal be on the cards?
Barcelona are open to selling the player due to their difficult financial condition and they may have to sell quickly as they are unable to register players with La Liga, including their new signings.
As a result, there may be a swap deal on the cards, despite the economic problems Barcelona have faced, as agent Jorge Mendes is trying to come to an agreement with Manchester City.
Mendes is trying to orchestrate a swap deal between City’s Bernardo Silva and Barcelona’s De Jong, and it’s believed that the Premier League champions is a more appealing prospect for De Jong.
Barcelona have been interested in Silva in the past, but were only open to the deal if De Jong was sold, and this agreement may just work out in their favour.
🚨 CBS Sports understands Barcelona have told Manchester City they will bid for Bernardo Silva before the transfer window shuts.
Silva is open to the move. Barcelona president Joan Laporta told us he's "a very good player" 🍿 pic.twitter.com/5op98R8Qc5— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 4, 2022
Silva has also supported Barcelona in the past, and said it was his dream to play there, as his idol, Deco, was a star at the Camp Nou in the 2000s.
For Manchester United to negotiate a transfer for over two months only to lose him to Manchester City would be a bitter pill to swallow, and they’ll be hoping to get the deal over the line as soon as possible.
And if Barcelona sign Silva, how they’ll manage to register him having struggled to do so with their current players is a bit of a mystery.