Manchester United 'prepared to make Frenkie de Jong their highest-paid player'

Manchester United are reportedly willing to pay Frenkie de Jong a weekly salary of £395,000 to move to Old Trafford during this summer's transfer window.

The Netherlands international is believed to be a leading transfer target for new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag, and Barcelona are said to be open to selling the midfielder this summer for financial reasons.

Man United will not be able to offer the 25-year-old Champions League football for next season, with the club finishing the 2021-22 Premier League in sixth spot, which will see them compete in the Europa League in 2022-23.

However, according to the Daily Star, the 20-time English champions are hoping that the chance to become the club's highest-paid player will convince him to join the club.

The report claims that the Red Devils are prepared to hand the Dutchman a deal worth £395,000 a week, which would immediately take him to the top of the list in terms of earnings.

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David de Gea's salary at Old Trafford is said to be £375,000 a week, while Jadon Sancho (£350,000), Raphael Varane (£340,000) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£300,000) are towards the top of the list.

Man United are said to have recently contacted De Jong to hand him a transfer ultimatum, with the club needing to know whether they stand a chance of signing him this summer.

The 25-year-old was again an important player for Barcelona during the 2021-22 campaign, making 46 appearances in all competitions, contributing four goals and five assists.

De Jong still has more than four years left to run on his contract at Camp Nou, but the Catalan outfit could sell him this summer to allow them to bring in Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.

The midfielder, who played under new Man United boss Ten Hag at Ajax, has now represented Barcelona on 139 occasions in all competitions, providing 13 goals and 17 assists.

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"We will do what is best for the club. If the economic levers that we want to activate come off, no player will leave for economic reasons," Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently told Catalunya Radio when asked about De Jong's future.

"I insist. Let the sports management work. There are players who are quoted to have received offers. In the sports area, Xavi and Mateu Alemany rule and he ends up deciding the club's sports management. I will follow what the professionals of the club say."

Barcelona boss Xavi has said that the midfielder "could be one of the club legends" but also conceded that the Dutchman's future "depends on the economic situation" at the club.

Manchester City have also been heavily linked with De Jong, as the Premier League champions are looking to sign a replacement for the outgoing Fernandinho this summer.

Earlier this month, it was suggested that Barcelona would be willing to accept a fee in the region of €60m (£51m) for the midfielder during the upcoming market.