Liverpool-linked midfielder Frenkie de Jong could be allowed to leave Barcelona for as little as £29.2m during the summer window, according to a report.
Despite being rejected by Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi during the summer window, the Reds have had few concerns in the engine room this season thanks to the exploits of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.
However, Arne Slot is still lacking genuine depth in that position, as Curtis Jones has been deployed in a more advanced role in 2024-25, while Tyler Morton and Wataru Endo are only on the fringes of the first team.
Liverpool were tipped to reignite their interest in Zubimendi this summer if the Spain international was to have a change of heart, but it is now understood that Arsenal are set to sign the Euro 2024 winner in a blockbuster £51m deal.
As a result, the Premier League leaders will have to switch their focus to alternative midfield options, and Barcelona's De Jong - whose future is never far from the spotlight - has been mentioned as an ideal candidate.
Liverpool offered £29.2m De Jong hope?
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The 27-year-old Netherlands international is yet to extend his Camp Nou contract beyond the summer of 2026, meaning that the upcoming summer window may be the Blaugrana's best chance to cash in.
According to CaughtOffside, Barcelona would be happy to accept bids as low as €35m (£29.2m) for De Jong, despite forking out as much as €86m (£71.4m) to sign him from Ajax in 2019.
The midfielder was memorably at the centre of a whirlwind transfer saga with Manchester United in 2022, where despite Erik ten Hag's best efforts, his former protege chose to stay in Catalonia.
De Jong has often reaffirmed his content at Camp Nou, but the 27-year-old has quickly fallen down the pecking order under Hansi Flick, who has only started him in two La Liga games during the current season.
The emergence of Marc Casado has relegated De Jong to a bit-part role this season, meaning that the Blaugrana are supposedly willing to do away with him this summer, as a contract extension is unlikely.
Why could Liverpool still hit De Jong stumbling block?
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While a £29.2m deal for a 27-year-old, world-class midfielder appears to be a no-brainer at first glance, there is still one sticking point which could impact Liverpool's pursuit - De Jong's wage packet.
According to Capology, the Dutchman is earning over £300,000 a week at Camp Nou - making him Barca's second highest-paid player behind Robert Lewandowski - and such a wage would also put him second on Liverpool's list behind Mohamed Salah.
The report adds that De Jong's extortionate wage packet has put both Liverpool and other interested clubs off of firming up their interest in the past, so the Netherlands international might have to accept a salary cut if he wishes to pull on the Reds shirt.
That will almost certainly be the case if new deals are agreed with Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate, the latter two of whom will be in line for bumper pay rises.
Ben Knapton
