As revealed by Fichajes, Manchester City are targeting Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong as a potential replacement for Rodri in January.
The Spaniard sustained an ACL injury against Arsenal last week, sidelining him for the entire season. The worst-case scenario came true for the men in blue, and they are now in desperate need of reinforcements in the middle.
Man City have lost just 11% of their games in which Rodri featured, and that sums up his importance to the team. Pep Guardiola’s men struggled in midfield against Newcastle United as they were held to a 1-1 draw at St. James Park.
The problems have started to pop up, and rumours claim that City are looking at Barcelona’s De Jong as a possible alternative in January.
MAN CITY TARGET FRENKIE DE JONG
The 27-year-old joined the La Liga side in 2019 from Ajax for €75 million. Since then, he has scored 17 goals and provided 21 assists in 213 appearances.
Barcelona have made him their highest-earning player in the squad, collecting a whopping €1.1m per week, including bonuses. It might be tempting for them to sell the player and ease the burden on their financial books.
However, manager Hansi Flick rates him highly and has no intention to let him leave. Injuries to Dani Olmo and Marc Bernal have further increased his demand in the squad.
Several reports suggested that Barcelona were ready to cash in on the Dutch international this summer, but they have now changed their plans. Manchester City were long-term admirers but hesitated from placing an offer on the table in the previous seasons.
They are now back in the hunt, with Guardiola said to be keen on landing the versatile midfielder. De Jong’s ability to dictate play, link effectively in the middle, and have brilliant passing skills make him a quality asset.
If you know anything about football, this clip tells you all you need to know about Frenkie De Jong.
Defensive monster-in-waiting, transition stopper/starter, incredible associative play, monster carrier and killer passer. pic.twitter.com/uVkgxLbzXx
— AI (@nonewthing) February 10, 2024
He is quite comfortable in keeping possession and plays well under pressure. A kind of player that will suit Guardiola’s style of play.
However, the Blaugrana want to keep De Jong as they plan to unleash the player in the Champions League games. They are currently placed first in La Liga and would aim to continue their momentum at the top.
City might get a lifeline if they offer an extraordinary deal to Barca, a sum that would be too great to be ignored. The player’s contract ends in 2026, and anything in the region of €50-60m might be enough to get the deal over the line.
