Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool lodge eye-catching bid for major Manchester United target, as Klopp seeks to do what Ten Hag couldn’t

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong

Liverpool have tabled a surprising offer to sign Man Utd target, Frenkie de Jong, and a report has detailed several reasons why it could be accepted.

The Dutch midfielder, 25, was the subject of a Manchester United chase that spanned over 13 weeks. De Jong was identified as the perfect man to pull the strings in Erik ten Hag’s midfield, though the player had other ideas.

Indeed, despite Barcelona accepting United’s £72m bid, the player refused to go along with the move.

De Jong is settled in Barcelona and does not wish to depart. He also wants Champions League football, while a row over deferred wages was another critical factor.

De Jong is reportedly owed around £17m by Barcelona in wages that were pushed back during the Covid pandemic.

De Jong’s agent, Ali Dursun, is insistent his client be fully compensated before even thinking of entertaining an exit, according to Dutch football expert, Marcel Van der Kraan.

United shifted their focus onto Adrien Rabiot and then Casemiro. They found joy in the latter, signing the Real Madrid destroyer in a deal that could total £70m.

The Red Devils are still pushing for a second midfield addition, and until the September 1 deadline passes, links to De Jong will not subside.

However, according to Forbes, they now face competition from Liverpool who it’s claimed have lodged a bid.

Reds table surprise bid?

The Reds have their own midfield issues to solve, though theirs stem from an injury crisis.

However, Jurgen Klopp has publicly insisted on numerous occasions his side won’t sign short-term panic buys.

But a player of De Jong’s calibre clearly wouldn’t fall into that category. What’s more, a new suitor for Naby Keita has emerged and with one year left on his contract, it may be wise to sell while they still can.

That would all but force Liverpool into the market. According to Forbes, they’ve lodged a £60m bid for De Jong.

Forbes cite information from Spanish outlet Futbol Total, and if accurate, the bid is somewhat surprising.

Indeed, the £53m up front with £7m earmarked for add-ons falls some way short of both Barcelona’s valuation and United’s bid that was accepted.

Regardless, Forbes put forward three reasons why Klopp may succeed where Ten Hag failed.

Three reasons why Liverpool could sign Frenkie de Jong

Firstly, Barcelona remain desperate to shift De Jong from their books.

Club president, Joan Laporta, has reportedly issued a new directive that no player will net a salary worth more than £8.45m per year (roughly £162,500-a-week).

De Jong would require a 50 percent pay cut to fall in line, something he’s obviously not willing to accept.

Secondly, Liverpool can satisfy De Jong’s Champions League demand. The draw for the Group Stage will take place at 5pm UK time on Thursday.

Finally, Barcelona still harbour hopes of prising Bernardo Silva away from Man City. If they’re to have any hope of pulling off that coup, De Jong must be moved out first.

In all, even if the report of Liverpool’s bid is accurate, it still appears highly unlikely De Jong will wind up at Anfield.

If the player’s stance wasn’t indication enough, Liverpool are expected to push hard for Jude Bellingham in 2023.