Man Utd ‘tell Barcelona they want transfer deal for Frenkie de Jong completed by Friday’ with issue over backdated wages

MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly set Barcelona a deadline of Friday to get Frenkie de Jong’s transfer completed. The Red Devils have agreed a fee of £55million for the 25-year-old Dutch midfielder. And chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough were snapped in the Spanish city on Monday after the big-wigs flew there to […]

MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly set Barcelona a deadline of Friday to get Frenkie de Jong’s transfer completed.

The Red Devils have agreed a fee of £55million for the 25-year-old Dutch midfielder.

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United chiefs John Murtough and Richard Arnold have been spotted in Barcelona[/caption]

And chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough were snapped in the Spanish city on Monday after the big-wigs flew there to push through the deal.

However, there is a major sticking point over backdated wages at Barcelona that is throwing a major spanner in the works.

De Jong agreed to a wage reduction during the pandemic to help cash-strapped Barca and is owed £24m.

They want United to pay it but the Old Trafford board are adamant they will not.

Now TalkSport is claiming that the Premier League club have told the LaLiga giants they want everything resolved by the close of the week.

United have only signed one player this window for new boss Erik ten Hag in left-back Tyrell Malacia so far.

And the United boss is desperate to get more recruits in.

Ten Hag said: “In my first press conference I said already we are definitely searching for players in midfield, we also have a need in offence. We are still looking for players.

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“It’s going to be a long season but a season that is quite unusual due to the World Cup.

“So you need to be prepared for this and need more players than in a normal season.

“We want to add the right players. If the opportunity is there, we will strike.”

Christian Eriksen is also expected to join the club this coming week on a free transfer.