Report: Bayern Munich holding talks with FC Barcelona over Frenkie de Jong

According to a report from Spain’s El Nacional, Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona are set to hold more talks over a transfer for Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong after an initial meeting:

Bayern Munich intends to take advantage of the economic crisis that Barça is going through. And Julian Nagelsmann hasn’t been slowed down at all, when it comes to demand several cracks of the blaugrana squad. It is an ideal moment to test the availability of some of its stars, taking advantage of the desperation that there is to get money urgently.

And the great favorite to leave is Frenkie de Jong. To begin with, because he has a large number of clubs interested in his contract, and they wouldn’t have to make much effort to find a way out of it. Secondly, because his market value is very high, and his sale would leave a lot to consider. And, finally, because his performance has not lived up to expectations at any time.

At Camp Nou they are really unhappy with the Dutch international, and he is not at ease either. He rejected superior proposals from the financial point of view, to be able to wear the blaugrana, and they promised him a very ambitious project.

El Nacional also is reporting that the clubs have already held initial talks and will meet again when the teams square off for a Champions League match in Munich on December 8th:

The first talks between de Jong and the current Bundesliga champions have already taken place. But they expect to leave everything very advanced during the month of December, concretely, from the eighth day. This is the date on which Barça will visit the Allianz Arena, corresponding to the sixth day of the group stage of the Champions League.

Also, El Nacional indicates that De Jong’s biggest support was Ronald Koeman, who was recently dismissed. With some young and cheap options potentially ready to take over in the midfield is looking to unload De Jong’s salary.

The last nugget — and the one that makes this rumor seem unlikely from a Bayern Munich perspective — if that FC Barcelona wants to recoup the €86 million it spent to buy De Jong from Ajax back in 2019. At this stage, it seems hard to believe that Bayern Munich would spend that much on another midfielder.