FRENKIE DE JONG is willing to kiss goodbye to nearly £6million in unpaid wages to clinch a move to Manchester City.
As SunSport revealed, Erik ten Hag wants the Barcelona star at rivals United but City chief Pep Guardiola is also a big fan - missing out three years ago when Barca’s £400,000-a-week after tax was too good for the Dutch star to turn down.
And while the Etihad money men are not keen on paying out the £65million it cost to take him to the Nou Camp from Ajax in 2019, De Jong’s stance on money he is owed may prove decisive.
Barca are still fighting their way out of a financial crisis, which saw players defer 40 per cent of wages for a year.
And midfielder De Jong is still owed a bumper figure, which he could waive to make a move happen.
Guardiola is in the market for a midfielder to replace the departing Fernandinho.
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But Barca may request Bernardo Silva or Raheem Sterling as part of any deal.
Boss Xavi revealed this week that De Jong remains a key part of his plans.
But he conceded that the club could still sell the 25-year-old this summer.
He said: "For me, he is a very important player.
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"He has been a starter almost always, except when he has been rotated.
"He is a fundamental footballer, but then there is the financial situation of the club.
"He is a player that I like very much, but we are going to see how the situation is."
As SunSport revealed earlier this week, Dutchman De Jong may snub a reunion with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag as he wants to play Champions League football.