Arsenal are closely monitoring Frenkie de Jong's situation after Barcelona gave him a clear message about his future.
The Catalan club have warned that if the midfielder does not sign a new contract before January, they will make him available on the transfer market to avoid him leaving as a free agent in the summer of 2026.
According to Spanish media, Joan Laporta has made it clear that Frenkie de Jong's continuity depends on a new contract. The board does not want to repeat the mistakes of the past and lose a key player without compensation.
The Dutchman, who arrived from Ajax in 2019 for €75m, has won two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies with Barca. At 28, he is in the prime of his career and is considered an elite midfielder in Europe.
Arsenal have already strengthened their midfield with the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard, but Mikel Arteta believes they are still lacking a top-level creative profile. De Jong would fit perfectly into that role, combining recovery with ball distribution and vision.
A recent report from Fichaje suggests that the London club are planning to exploit the contractual uncertainty to open negotiations in January. Arteta also sees the Dutchman as the player who would raise the level of the team in the fight for the Premier League and Champions League.
Barcelona need to balance their finances within the framework of financial fair play rules. Keeping De Jong, one of the highest-paid players, poses difficulties. The club believes that if an agreement is not reached soon, a sale in the winter would be the best option.
The emergence of young talents like Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal increases the possibility that Barça will give up its star player, to make way for younger players and reduce the wage bill.
Although Arsenal are seen as the main contenders, they are not the only ones interested. The Saudi Pro League have also shown interest, opening up the possibility of an international bidding war. However, sources close to De Jong suggest he prefers to stay in top-flight European football.
The player wants to stay at Barça, but is demanding financial conditions that the board are not willing to meet. In any case, his decision before January is crucial, as the La Liga champions cannot risk losing him without financial gain.
Frenkie de Jong's future is at a critical juncture. Arsenal are keeping a close eye on him, Barcelona are pressing him with an ultimatum, and the player is torn between staying at Camp Nou or starting a new chapter in England.
The answer will come in the coming months and could mark one of the most important moves of the upcoming transfer window./Express newspaper/
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