According to SPORT, Liverpool are desperate to sign Frenkie de Jong, who is having a difficult time under Xavi at Barcelona.
What’s the story?
Well, the Liverpool target was among the best midfielders in Europe when Barcelona signed him from Ajax in a £65m deal back in 2019.
However, the 24-year-old has regressed at the Camp Nou, and SPORT believe he is suffering emotionally amid a tough time for Barcelona.
De Jong is described as one of the few players at Barcelona who watches video analysis, and he is far from happy with his own displays.
SPORT claim that Barcelona have no desire to sell the Dutchman, and Xavi trusts him significantly.
However, the Spanish news outlet add that Barcelona need to make a significant sale, and De Jong already has offers from elsewhere.
SPORT add that Liverpool face competition from Bayern Munich.
Liverpool must sign Frenkie de Jong
Opportunities like this do not come around often in football, and Jürgen Klopp must jump at the chance to sign De Jong.
The 38-cap Netherlands international is a wonderful footballer, who looked set to become Europe’s best before joining Barcelona right on the cusp of their downfall.
De Jong shone as Ajax were just seconds away from meeting Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final.
Notably, his performance at the Santiago Bernabeu as Ajax beat Real Madrid 4-1 will live long in the memory – he made Luka Modric look amateurish on that occasion.
Even Lionel Messi has described the Reds target as a “complete footballer” – when the Argentine speaks, it’s worth listening to.
Speaking to Marca, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner said: “He likes to have the ball, play short passes, play passes between the lines, and he has a very fast and strong stride. He is a very complete footballer.”
If Liverpool get their hands on De Jong, it would be one of the best signings made under Michael Edwards, without a doubt.
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