Barcelona ready to axe De Jong after becoming a 'serious problem'

Tom Weber

Updated: 22 Dec 2024 08:53 CST
3 min read

Frenkie de Jong is increasingly becoming 'very, very transferrable' as far as Barcelona are concerned, according to Spanish media.

The Dutchman has endured a real nightmare over the past year or so. Despite overcoming his persistent injury problems earlier this season, De Jong continues to face intense scrutiny.

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Believed to be LaLiga's best-paid player, the midfielder has done little to suggest that his lucrative wages are justified. De Jong has been sluggish when he's been on the pitch, and his defensive work - or lack thereof - has attracted the ire of Barcelona fans in recent weeks.

The 27-year-old is out of contract in 2026 and club president Joan Laporta has announced that Barcelona won't have any players with just a year left on their deal heading into next season.

While for most players this is basically a promise of a new deal, for De Jong it is more of a threat that he could be sold in 2025.

Barcelona ready to axe De Jong

According to Relevo, Barcelona are having serious doubts about handing De Jong fresh terms despite talks over an extension in recent months. The Dutchman is simply no longer good enough to compete with the rest of the club's midfielders.

The case of De Jong has become a 'serious problem' for the club. The midfielder would have to make a 'radical' upturn in his form to bring the Blaugrana brass back to the negotiating table.

De Jong is a far cry from the Ajax superstar who convinced Barcelona to pay a fortune and there are some at the club who believe that 'De Jong costs Barca more when he plays than when he is in the stands.'

The Dutchman has become 'very, very transferable' and Barcelona would ideally like to offload him sooner rather than later. But who could sign him in 2025?

Erik ten Hag, who was so desperate to sign him in recent years, is no longer at Man Utd. It begs the question, then, who would even be prepared to sign the underperforming, extremely expensive midfielder?