According to a report from The Sun, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is considering pursuing Frenkie de Jong as an alternative following his decision to abandon the pursuit of Declan Rice. However, Barcelona will demand a fee of around £90 million, the same amount that Guardiola was initially willing to pay for the West Ham star.
De Jong’s Impressive Performance At The Nou Camp Last Season
De Jong is enjoying a successful season at the Catalan club, delivering a series of impressive performances in the midfield. The 25-year-old has appeared in 38 matches for Barcelona this season, scoring two goals and providing four assists across all competitions.
The Dutch talent has been consistent in the game’s defensive and offensive aspects, maintaining an average of 1.4 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 0.6 clearances, 0.5 shots, 1.4 key passes, and 1.1 dribbles per game in La Liga. He has also excelled in distributing the ball accurately, completing 91.4% of his attempted passes in the top Spanish league (stats via whoscored).
De Jong’s current contract with Barcelona is set to expire in the summer of 2026. Despite the option to explore other opportunities, the 26-year-old Dutch star has chosen to remain in Barcelona and is not in a hurry to leave Spain.
Should Guardiola Bring Him To Manchester City?
De Jong possesses strong tackling abilities and is known for making crucial midfield interceptions. He also exhibits excellent vision, creating enticing scoring opportunities for his teammates in the opponent’s half and displaying energetic ball runs.
Nevertheless, the Dutch sensation needs to enhance his effectiveness in the attacking third. Nonetheless, there is no question about his overall quality and how he remains integral to Xavi’s Barcelona.
However, he is aware that the club’s management are open to a potential sale as they aim to improve the club’s challenging financial situation. This could be pivotal for Pep Guardiola as he could make the right offer to persuade the club to sanction his exit this summer. Hence, Man City should do everything they can to bring him to the Etihad Stadium in this transfer window.
