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FC Barcelona have reportedly rejected a swap deal suggestion from Manchester United to send Antony to the Camp Nou in return for Frenkie de Jong.
The Red Devils have been linked to the Dutchman since 2022 and even had a bid accepted in the July of that summer for the Netherlands international.
Sadly for Erik ten Hag, De Jong had little interest in swapping Barcelona for Manchester, so the move never materialised.
Instead of the former Ajax man, United signed Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in that window and despite impressing in their first season, both seem well past their best in 2024.
Therefore, United are on the hunt for a new defensive midfielder and it seemed that this would be Manuel Ugarte but news broke last night that the club had walked away from talks with Paris Saint-Germain due to their excessive demands for the player.
Almost like clockwork, fresh reports have begun to emerge in Spain that United could turn to their past obsession, De Jong.
The Manchester Evening News cites these reports claiming “Ten Hag is still keen to sign De Jong for United.”
“The club are said to have presented a swap deal to try and convince Barcelona to do a deal for De Jong. The swap deal would see Antony move to the Camp Nou with De Jong making the switch to Old Trafford.”
It will come as no surprise to anyone that the deal has been swiftly rejected.
Barcelona are in desperate need to raise funds due to their own financial difficulties and the sale of De Jong would help drain their wage bill significantly as he reportedly makes an eye-watering €721,154 a week.
In regard to Antony, United would gladly rid themselves of the winger who has failed to impress in his two years at Old Trafford, but they seemingly have no takers for a player who himself is on excessive wages.
Whilst the media is currently unsure of who United will target next in midfield, it would be a strange choice if Ineos barked up the De Jong tree once again as the club were so publicly humiliated by the player’s rejection just two years ago.
What’s more, even if he was open to a move, his wage demands would do little for squad harmony and United’s PSR restrictions.
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