Man Utd news: Barcelona president provides update on Frenkie de Jong future | Soccer

The Red Devils have been chasing the Dutchman all summer but the move to England looks increasingly unlikely as the transfer window rolls on.

Clubs had agreed a broad deal to bring De Jong to Old Trafford, but it never seemed the 25-year-old was enthusiastic about giving up the Camp Nou for Manchester.

Laporta now insists that Barcelona want to keep the Dutchman and says the player also wants to stay, so it looks very likely that will happen.

“The first thing to say is that we want Frenkie to stay at Barcelona. We love the player and love him as a person,” Laporta told CBS Soccer.

“I want him to stay at Barcelona. He’s a quality player and a good guy. I also know that he wants to stay.

“You never know in football. I can’t say that in general [he will stay]. It all depends on the different parties.

“But basically I can say that it is very likely that he will stay and I will do my best to make him stay at Barcelona.”

With Barcelona’s finances remaining in a unique and unenviable state, the club have asked de Jong to take a pay cut but Laporta insists there will be no pressure on him.

“Everything we do with Frenkie is the same as we do with the rest of the team,” he explained. “The signings have adjusted their salary to the new structure. But Frenkie has a contract and we respect that. We can’t force him to take a pay cut. It is his decision.”

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