FC Barcelona continues to consider Frenkie de Jong as one of its possible transfers this summer. With three weeks left on the market, Deco sees Arkel as a very profitable option to sign one or two more players, although the midfielder remains out of the rumors and only thinks about returning to action as soon as possible after almost four months injured.
According to the latest information, the club has set Arkel's starting price at €60 million, €10M of the minimum set last summer to let him go. Manchester United has once again sounded like the club most interested in the Dutchman, but the player has no doubts about his continuity in a Barça that, with Hansi Flick, aims to use a double pivot to give more strength to the team.
In that sense, Frenkie has Flick's trust to, either alongside Christensen, Ílkay Gündogan or a new reinforcement, lead the Barça midfield once he overcomes his right ankle ailments. The tulip missed the Euro Cup and was not available for the American tour, but his return should not take more than two or three weeks, although the club has not revealed when he will be discharged.
Deco insists on the sale of De Jong to close another signing
Despite this, the Barça sports director insists on doing without the Dutchman due to two key factors: his salary and his recent physical problems. The '21' has a contract with Barça until 2026, at a rate of 16 million gross per year. However, Arkel's deferred salary during the pandemic raises his emoluments to 22 'kilos' in 24/25, while in 25/26 he will receive €27.7M, according to figures leaked by 'Marca' .
This, added to the injuries that the midfielder has been suffering in recent months, lead Deco to find a place for him in another team for a figure close to €60M. Furthermore, the good level shown by the Casadó-Bernal duo on the tour gives the club confidence about the alternatives for the defensive pivot. However, De Jong does not plan to negotiate with any club and will have no problem declaring 'war' on the Portuguese, something he already did in 2022 when Mateu Alemany had his transfer to United well underway. The player has never thought about leaving and hopes to fully recover in September to confirm his value in a club where, since his arrival in 2019, he has always had ups and downs in terms of performance.