De Jong celebrates with Barcelona teammates.placeholder image
De Jong celebrates with Barcelona teammates. | AFP via Getty Images
Andrea Berta helped Arsenal strengthen in midfield this summer but the Gunners were still linked with a Barcelona star.
Arsenal appear to have been handed a fatal transfer blow in any pursuit of Barcelona star Frenkie De Jong next summer with a fresh update on his contract situation in Catalunya.
The Gunners made strengthening the midfield a priority for Andrea Berta this summer and did exactly that. Martin Zubimendi arrived from Real Sociedad in a £60 million move with Eberechi Eze also snapped up from Crystal Palace for £68 million, as well as Christian Norgaard coming in from Brentford to add strength in depth.
De Jong was another player who had speculatively been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium. While that did not happen in the summer, Fichajes claimed last month that Arsenal were still keeping a close eye on the player ahead of his contract expiry next summer.
Arsenal transfer target set to sign new Barcelona contract
Currently, the 28-year-old would be available on a free transfer. However, it appears that a new deal with Barcelona is in the offing. De Jong joined the La Liga giants from Ajax in 2019 and has gone on to make 267 appearances for the club.
Taking to social media platform X on Thursday morning, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano wrote: “Frenkie de Jong has given his approval to sign his new contract at Barcelona until June 2029. The verbal agreement is done on every detail, just waiting on formal steps on both sides.”
That comes after the player himself was asked for his take on Romano’s updates. In response, he said: “Fabrizio said that? Well, like I’ve always said, in principle I am going to renew my contract at Barcelona.”
Mikel Arteta on Gunners’ strength in depth
Arsenal are now blessed with options in the centre of the park. This summer’s additions joined Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino as options, with rising star Max Dowman also breaking through.
Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Fabio Vieira all left Arsenal this summer but, speaking after the win over Olympiacos last week, Arteta shared his happiness with the team’s new strength in depth. He said: “With all respect, last season we were looking (at the bench) and we had five academy players there, that probably never played professional football in the Champions League, so it makes a difference.
“Today we decided to change six players because I want everybody to really be involved and feel part of it, and it was great. We had the feeling as well that physically we were dropping because we played a really intense match in Newcastle a few days ago. The ones that came in again, they lifted the level, and they helped us to win the game, and that’s great.”
In other news, Mikel Arteta did not want £23m Arsenal transfer exit as player speaks out.
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