TRANSFERS: Al-Ittihad insists on Frenkie de Jong and improves its offer to Barça

FC Barcelona must resolve Frenkie de Jong's future as soon as possible. The Dutchman is one of the players whose contract expires in 2026 and, in principle, the board and coaching staff are betting on his renewal, considering the good level that the '21' has shown in the second half of the season.

The player from Arkel won the battle against Marc Casadó for the starting position in the last month of competition and, with the injury of the Catalan, his presence will carry much more weight in the final stretch of the 2024-25 season. In this sense, Frenkie's good moment can, at the same time, activate the interest of other clubs in signing him in the upcoming summer market. For now, Saudi Al-Ittihad is his main suitor.

Al-Ittihad willing to improve its offer for Frenkie de Jong

Recent reports indicate a new offer from the Saudi team in the order of 50 million euros, an amount that would allow Barça to amortize the arrival of another forward in the upcoming transfer window. If De Jong does not renew by July, the board will opt to put him on the market, a stance that applies to all players approaching their last year of contract.

In the case of Al-Ittihad, its sports director, Ramón Planes, has sought to sign renowned players to strengthen the 'tiger-striped' squad, also showing interest in signing 'stars' like Marc-André Ter Stegen, although his departure from Barça is not complicated in the short term due to his recent renewal (he signed until 2028).

The club, in fact, signed the Catalan midfielder Unai Hernández in the last summer market. Their squad features figures like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, Dani Pereira, Fabinho, and Moussa Diaby. Will Frenkie be the new star under the guidance of the experienced French coach Laurent Blanc?

De Jong does not plan to leave Barça this year

Although Al-Ittihad has shown genuine interest, Frenkie de Jong seems willing to renew his contract with FC Barcelona, thanks to the confidence he has received from coach Hansi Flick. The German has allowed him to return to his best level and, so far, he has accumulated 1,380 minutes of action in 29 matches (2 goals and 1 assist).

For Barça, his potential departure in the summer would have a mixed impact, from both a sporting and financial perspective:

📌Sporting Impact

• Reorganization of the midfield: De Jong's absence would force Barça to reorganize its midfield. Players like Casadó, Bernal, and Fermín could take on a more prominent role, but the experience and versatility of the Dutchman would be difficult to replace.
• Need for reinforcements: Frenkie's departure could accelerate the search for a high-level midfielder. However, with his continuity, Barça has ruled out signings like that of Joshua Kimmich.
• Impact on the sports project: De Jong is a key piece in Hansi Flick's scheme. His departure could disrupt the coach's long-term plans and require significant adjustments in the team's strategy.

📌Economic Impact

• Reduction of the wage bill: De Jong's departure would significantly relieve Barça's wage bill, as his contract incurs an annual cost of around 20 million euros.
• Transfer income: Barça could obtain a considerable sum from Frenkie's transfer, which would help finance other operations in the market.
• Pending compensation: The club has negotiated the payment of 18 million euros in pending salary in exchange for De Jong agreeing to leave the club if he ultimately decides not to renew this year.

In summary, Frenkie de Jong's departure would have both positive and negative effects for FC Barcelona, depending on how the sporting and economic consequences are managed. However, currently, his continuity seems closer, which has changed the club's transfer plans.