Barcelona 'pushing for Frenkie De Jong to join Manchester United'

United have been pursuing De Jong throughout the transfer window, with the two clubs allegedly agreeing on a fee.

Although, the Red Devils are concerned the deal is in doubt due to a number of factors, including an issue of deferred wages which the midfielder is owed by Barcelona.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has also stated that the club are not willing to sell the Dutchman, while De Jong has expressed a desire to remain at Camp Nou.

However, according to Diario AS, via the Mirror, the Barcelona hierarchy are 'secretly pushing' to offload De Jong to Manchester United.

The report suggests that Xavi has doubts regarding the player's capabilities after supposedly lamenting the 25-year-old in a league match against Osasuna last season.

Xavi reportedly stated: "We don't have footballers with the total packaging to control the game."

Meanwhile, there is also a belief within the club that selling De Jong would not be an admission of a mistake due to the fact the player joined the club under the previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

The Dutchman, who has four years remaining on his current contract, has made 138 appearances for Barcelona after joining the club from Ajax in 2019.