Frenkie de Jong’s future is once again headline news as the Dutchman struggles to make an impact at Barcelona on his return from injury.
The midfielder missed five months with an ankle problem and is struggling to recapture his best form for club and country.
There are also concerns about his ankle, with the midfielder having openly admitted the extra precautions he now needs to take before and after matches.
FC Barcelona v Stade Brestois 29 - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images
In the wake of all this, Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Barca consider their most recent contract offer to De Jong to have expired. A new offer “has not been ruled out” but it’s not a certainty and the club are waiting to see how he gets on for the rest of the season.
Diario Sport are a little more forceful and report Barcelona will try to find an exit for De Jong in June. That may be easier said than done, as we’ve seen before, but the report says the “board of directors is in favour of the midfielder leaving at the end of the season.”
The club feel they have plenty of other midfield options and would be relieved to get De Jong’s salary off the wage bill. Barca also want to avoid the possibility of the Dutchman leaving for free when his contract expires in 2026.
RC Celta de Vigo v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images
And Marca are also reporting on the situation, claming “Barcelona are no longer in a hurry to renew” De Jong as they’ve been waiting a year for a response to their last contract offer.
De Jong has always been defiant about his future and insisted he only wants to play for Barcelona.
Yet there’s no doubt he has lost a bit of prominence at the club due to his ankle injury and it looks like we could be in for another De Jong transfer saga this summer.