Barcelona are reportedly worried that Manchester United-linked midfielder Frenkie de Jong is trying to run down the last two years of his contract.
The Dutchman has not penned a contract extension with the Blaugrana since October 2020, and his current terms run out in the summer of 2026 amid serious interest from the Red Devils.
In the four years since his most recent renewal, De Jong has been targeted relentlessly by his former Ajax mentor Erik ten Hag, who has repeatedly tried and failed to facilitate a reunion at Old Trafford.
The summer of 2022 saw an extremely long-winded saga involving De Jong and Man United, who apparently agreed a fee with Barcelona at one stage but were given the cold shoulder by the midfielder.
De Jong has often spoken of his love for Barcelona and his desire to continue at Camp Nou, but La Blaugrana are at risk of losing the 27-year-old for nothing in just under two years' time.
© Imago
Cracks appearing in Barcelona-De Jong relationship?
According to AS, Barcelona sporting director Deco has been trying to contact De Jong's entourage to discuss a new deal for the midfielder, albeit on a lower salary, as his current terms are worth a mammoth €35m (£29.8m).
De Jong's extortionate wages are down to deferred payments from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the report adds that Deco's messages to De Jong's camp have fallen on deaf ears.
As a result, La Blaugrana have their suspicions that the Dutchman has no intention of ever signing a new deal and plans to either run down or terminate his current terms before leaving as a free agent.
The De Jong contract saga is supposedly just one reason for his relationship with Barcelona becoming strained, as they are apparently perplexed by the amount of time that the midfielder is taking to recover from his latest injury.
The Dutchman sustained three separate ankle problems last year, most recently at the end of April, although the club's medical staff were initially expecting him to just be out for a minimum of six and maximum of eight weeks with a grade two sprain.
© Imago
However, it has now been nearly four months since his last appearance, and head coach Hansi Flick is expecting to be without De Jong for the first few weeks of the new season, confusing the Blaugrana hierarchy even more.
De Jong has 17 goals and 21 assists to show from 213 games for Barcelona since leaving Ajax in 2019, but he is not likely to be back in action before the September international break and is allegedly considered more of a 'problem' than a help at Camp Nou.
Could Man United make a late move for De Jong?
Ten Hag is always believed to have held a particular admiration for De Jong ever since nurturing him at Ajax, and a new midfielder is still thought to be a priority for the Red Devils in the latter stage of the window.
However, a late move for De Jong is supposedly unlikely at this stage, as Man United are instead prioritising a deal for Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte, with a breakthrough thought to be close.
If a move for the Uruguayan falls through, Sander Berge of Burnley is thought to be their top alternative, and the door is not completely closed on a permanent move for Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat.
Ben Knapton
