LIVERPOOL MAKE £60M FRENKIE DE JONG BID IN MAN UNITED UNDERCUT

A report claims Liverpool have made a bid of £60m to land Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona. Nonsense? Probably. Grab a pinch of salt. Manchester United agreed an €85m (£72m) fee with Barcelona for the Dutch midfielder early on in the transfer window, but De Jong has dug his heels in at the Nou Camp. The Spanish giants wanted De Jong to leave or take a significant wage cut, neither of which appealed to the midfielder, who was dead set against a move to United as if he was forced from Barcelona he wants to be playing Champions League football.

United have now given up on De Jong, according to Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic, who claims the arrival of Casemiro at Old Trafford has ended their pursuit. Whitwell claims Frenkie de Jong set pulses racing by liking an Instagram post about Casemiro’s arrival, but that pursuit is considered done. The Brazilian is seen as De Jong’s alternative, especially given the cost. But the 25-year-old could still be on his way out of Barcelona (he’s not) if a report from Futbol Total is to be believed (it’s not).

The Spanish outlet ‘confirmed’ the claim made by Liverpool podcast TalkOfTheKop that Liverpool have made an offer of £53m plus £7m in variables for De Jong. It’s claimed De Jong could ease the concerns of Jurgen Klopp, who wants to add a midfielder to his ranks before the end of the window. Liverpool’s ability to offer Champions League football and a realistic chance of silverware may make them a more attractive prospect for De Jong, though Barcelona now appear to have accepted he will be staying as they look to move other players on.

The Catalans still need to make space in their squad to be able to register new signing Jules Kounde, who has so far watched from the sidelines this season. Memphis Depay is one of the players surplus to requirements at Barcelona and reports suggest he could make a dramatic return to Manchester United after a first less than successful first spell at Old Trafford.