Barcelona fear midfield heavyweight will leave for free as he ignores renewal offers

At this point, Frenkie de Jong can only be described as a burden on FC Barcelona. Despite his undeniable quality on the field, his recent injury has turned out much worse than anticipated and is a very curious case.

Initially expected to be out for six to eight weeks after suffering an ankle injury in El Clasico in April, the Dutchman is now close to completing four months out of action.

Yet, there is still no projected date for his return and there is serious concern in the administration around his injury.

Worrying contract

If De Jong’s fitness is a headache for Joan Laporta and Co., his contractual status is another topic of similar worry as revealed by AS.

The 27-year-old’s current deal with Barcelona runs out in 2026 and he is thus in the final two years of his deal in Catalonia.

As it stands, he is the club’s highest earner with a staggering salary of €35 million per season. Deco and Co. have been working hard on securing a renewal on lower wages to help accommodate the club’s delicate financial situation.

All contacts between De Jong and the club on that front, however, have ended in dead ends.

The player has been unresponsive to the proposals on his table and there is real concern in Catalonia that the player is considering leaving as a free agent at the end of his deal.

As it stands, De Jong is one of Barcelona’s most valued players from a transfer standpoint and the Blaugrana have actively seen him as a suitable candidate to leave the club in exchange for a good sum.

Should he decide to run down his contract, however, it would be a big blow for Barcelona who have invested a massive amount in his signing and growth.