Borussia Dortmund has shown a notable interest in signing Frenkie de Jong, the midfielder from FC Barcelona. According to the latest reports, the German club has contacted Deco, Barça's sporting director, to negotiate a possible departure of the Dutchman. This news comes at a complicated time for the player, who is not a regular starter in the blaugrana team due to his high salary and his situation in the team.
Frenkie De Jong's Current Situation at Barcelona
Frenkie de Jong has been one of the most controversial figures at Barcelona in recent months. Despite his undeniable talent, he has been considered one of the most debated substitutes on the team.
His gross annual salary of 19 million euros is a burden on the club's finances, which is trying to reduce its wage bill. This situation has led Barça to not rule out a near-term departure, with the option of Borussia Dortmund signing him on the table.
Although De Jong hasn't been a regular starter under Xavi's management, his performance has improved in recent matches. In the latest edition of the Spanish Super Cup, he was relegated to the bench, which caused uncertainty about his future. However, in subsequent matches against Betis and Getafe, he managed to regain the coach's confidence and showed glimpses of his quality.
Borussia Dortmund's Proposal
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund is in a complicated situation. The German club has had an irregular start and dismissed its coach, Nuri Sahin, after losing to Bologna. This defeat distanced Dortmund from the Champions League spots, and their performance in the Bundesliga has been disappointing.
With only 25 points in 19 matches, the team is in a disappointing tenth position, 20 points behind the leader, Bayern Munich. In light of this situation, Dortmund is looking to sign at least two high-level players in January to save the season. Frenkie de Jong's name appears on the priority list.
What is De Jong's Price?
FC Barcelona would be willing to negotiate Frenkie de Jong's departure for a figure close to 30 million euros. However, the option of a loan in which Dortmund assumes at least 50% of the player's salary is also being considered.
This alternative would be beneficial for the Catalan club's finances, which need to free up wage space to comply with the financial requirements set by La Liga.