Manchester City are reportedly planning to move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong next year, with a deal during the January transfer window not being ruled out.
The Citizens are expected to enter the winter market for a new central midfielder, having been hit with the news that Rodri will be out for the remainder of the campaign with a serious knee injury.
Torino's Samuele Ricci has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, but according to Fichajes, De Jong is also firmly on the Manchester club's radar.
The 27-year-old's contract at Camp Nou is due to expire in June 2026, and there is thought to be a strong chance that he could leave the La Liga giants next year.
According to FootballTransfers, Barcelona have now come to an agreement with De Jong over the Dutchman's deferred wages, which could lead to his departure in 2025.
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Man City 'exploring 2025 deal for De Jong'
The midfielder agreed to defer a large portion of his salary to help Barcelona during the pandemic, but it is understood that an agreement has now been reached over the unpaid wages.
However, in order for De Jong to receive the amount, said to be in the region of €18m (£15m), he will have to agree to an exit during next summer's transfer window.
While the Netherlands international is viewed as a key player, his significant wages mean that Barcelona are prepared to let him leave, as he is also capable of raising a large transfer fee.
De Jong's recent injury problems are also believed to have convinced the Catalan outfit that the best outcome is for him to leave, and Man City could now potentially bring him to the Premier League.
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When will De Jong return from injury?
The ex-Ajax youngster has not made a single appearance for Barcelona since April due to an ankle problem which has proved difficult to overcome.
However, De Jong is now in the latter stages of his recovery, with Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick providing an update on his fitness during his press conference ahead of Saturday's clash with Osasuna.
"In the case of Frenkie, he is close to being recovered to help us. It's good to see him. I think he takes a day off tomorrow. He has trained a lot and he needs time to recover," he said.
"The problem for him is not the normal week, he is an experienced player, he can help me even if he plays 20 minutes, but we have to see how he evolves. We'll see next week."
De Jong has a slight chance of being available for next week's Champions League fixture with Young Boys, although it is more likely that he will return against Alaves on October 6.
Matt Law
