FC Barcelona will look to offload Frenkie de Jong this summer according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
The Netherlands international arrived at Camp Nou to great fanfare in 2019, after the Catalans beat the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain to his signature following a breakout campaign in the Champions League.
The number 21 was voted the best midfielder in the elite competition that season, as he helped Ajax to an unlikely run to the semi-finals which took in victories against the likes of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Five years on, the €75 million signing hasn't entirely worked out as planned.
De Jong was tipped to become a club legend like compatriots of the past including Ronald Koeman and Johan Cruyff.
Yet his half decade in Catalonia has yielded just a single La Liga crown in 2023, and a Copa del Rey.
At present, he's way down the pecking order in terms of Hansi Flick's primary midfield selection choices with Marc Casado, Pedri and Gavi all in front of him among others.
And despite impressing off the bench against Real Madrid in El Clasico and helping his team to a 4-0 win, performances since haven't been as impressive since his recovery from an ankle knock.
As the highest earner in the squad who is refusing to negotiate a contract renewal, or at least respond to Barca's offer which Mundo Deportivo - citing anonymous sources - reported has now expired.
Given that said contract expires on June 30, 2026, next summer is the last that Barca can hope to cash in a reasonable amount for De Jong.
At the turn of 2026, he would be free to start negotiating his exit without needing the permission of his current employers, which would be a crushing blow for the Blaugrana.
In recent weeks, Catalunya Radio reported that there is a belief De Jong is purposely ignoring Barca's attempts to renew his contract and spread out the deferred pay he is owed from the pandemic in order to arrive at his next club for nothing and therefore put himself in line to receive a considerable signing on bonus.