Arsenal ready to pounce if €45m player fails to renew at Barcelona

FC Barcelona head into the brand new La Liga season with a squad sturdy sufficient to compete on all fronts. Hansi Flick’s males look much more formidable on paper than final time period, and with pre-season now wrapped up, the Catalans will open their marketing campaign towards Mallorca tonight.

Behind the scenes, nonetheless, one key subject stays unsettled. Sporting director Deco has labored tirelessly to safe long-term futures for a number of core gamers, but vice-captain Frenkie de Jong has not signed a contract extension.

The €45 million-rated Dutchman’s present deal runs till 2026. Whereas he has reiterated on a number of events that his want is to proceed at Camp Noutalks haven’t yielded a breakthrough. Hypothesis is due to this fact anticipated to persist till the renewal settlement is signed, and it has already reached the Premier League.

Arsenal circling within the background

In keeping with a report from SigningsArsenal are intently monitoring De Jong’s state of affairs. Ought to renewal talks drag on, the London aspect is ready to check the waters.

Mikel Arteta has lengthy admired the 28-year-old’s profile. De Jong is coming off the most effective seasons of his profession, thriving in Flick’s system and proving himself as one of many most interesting midfielders in Europe.

Although Arsenal already boast an enviable midfield with Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, and summer season signing Martín Zubimendi, Arteta reportedly views De Jong’s press resistance, composure underneath strain, and management in transitions as qualities that would elevate his squad additional.

Renewal issues at Barcelona

Barcelona, for his or her half, are decided to tie De Jong down past 2026. However the negotiations are removed from simple. The membership, nonetheless navigating its monetary restructuring, needs the midfielder to simply accept a big wage discount.

Including to the complexity is De Jong’s intention to finish his relationship together with his present agent, Ali Dursun, whose contract with him additionally runs till 2026.

These elements have slowed the method, creating an air of uncertainty. Though each De Jong and the membership publicly preserve that they see his future in Barcelona, the absence of a concrete renewal leaves the door ajar for out of doors curiosity.

The free-agent issue

If no settlement is reached quickly, Barcelona may face a dangerous state of affairs. De Jong has now entered the ultimate yr of his contract, which runs till June 2026.

Which means that from January 2026, he will likely be legally allowed to barter straight with different golf equipment as a free agent, leaving Barcelona at risk of shedding one among their most essential gamers with out receiving a switch price.

For Arsenal, this could characterize a golden alternative. Not solely may they safe a top-level midfielder with out a switch price, however they may additionally provide De Jong a profitable package deal that Barcelona, given their monetary restrictions, would possibly battle to match.

A precedence for Deco and the Barcelona board

For Barcelona followers, there’s little motive to panic simply but. De Jong stays dedicated to the membership, and each events share an curiosity in extending his keep.

Even so, with Arsenal reportedly lurking within the background, his renewal needs to be handled as a precedence by Deco and the Barcelona board.