Frenkie de Jong

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Look at 3-5 years where the squad wants to be as well as where it is right now. Always helps put a bit of perspective on what the needs are, pre-emptive not reactionary.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Look at 3-5 years where the squad wants to be as well as where it is right now. Always helps put a bit of perspective on what the needs are, pre-emptive not reactionary.

Tbf thats something we generally do very well as a club. Being ahead of the game, and being knee jerk, sums up the difference between City and the rags, and has done for a good few years.

 

[WallyA]

I think it seems very likely considering the situation:

1) Barca's forwards are young, injured or old. Aguero unfortunately for him, is not gonna have much of a career there due to his situation. Fati is amazing, but really young and seemingly injury prone. Dembele is crazy injury prone as well. Braithwaite is old. De Jong is old and was a panic loan. They got rid of Griezmann and Trincao.

Then they have Depay. That's it, I don't blame Koeman for Barca's woes this season. That attack is dead.

So Barca are really in desparate need of an experienced but not old, Galactico level signing who is not injury prone and scores goals.

2) But Money. How does Barca make such a signing? Well they have Frenkie de Jong, who while great is worth alot of money and has high wages. Lucky for Barca they happened to unravel 3 young midfield talents recently in Pedri, Gavi and Nico.

3) City aren't relying on Sterling and need a backup to Rodri and Gundogan for the future. Romeo Lavia is not ready. We did not get Kane so we can easily swap Sterling with Frenkie and send an extra 20m probably to make it go through no problem.

Considering these 3 things, I think this has atleast a 50% chance of happening.

 

[Coatigan]

Because if Sterling doesn’t sign a contract we will sell him probably in the summer. So he has a value. We may well be using that value as a calculation for what we can spend on a new striker so swapping him for a player in a position we aren't desperate for wouldn’t be saving us a fortune it would be wasting an asset.
Nothing to do with whether academy players are or aren’t good enough.

And even if he stays and sees his contract out, that still has value, as he is a very good player and option. He is not likely to be out of form forever, and the quality is there. Otherwise no buying club would be interested in him anyway.

This deJong swap idea has been going here long before anyone in the media suggested it, purely out of wishful thinking. Good player many like, player many have come to not care for or want to see moved on, and connection made. Only recently has it been suggested Barcelona would look to sell him or use him in a deal, with no real suggestion we actually want him.

I do think if the club saw an opportunity and wanted him long term, they could be tempted. But I somehow doubt they are actively looking at it, particularly ahead of sorting out a striker.



OR they might be looking at a swap deal for the one the player they really do want and need from Barcelona. The mighty Sergi Roberto, of course.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

there's no room for a 26 year old on €400k/week.

This made me feel old. Thankfully, he's "only" 24.

Not a having a pop at Grealish by any means but if you were to ask me who I'd want to see alongside Phil in midfield within the next couple of years then de Jong wins and it's not even a contest. He's absolutely brilliant.

 

[skyblue92]

I think it seems very likely considering the situation:

1) Barca's forwards are young, injured or old. Aguero unfortunately for him, is not gonna have much of a career there due to his situation. Fati is amazing, but really young and seemingly injury prone. Dembele is crazy injury prone as well. Braithwaite is old. De Jong is old and was a panic loan. They got rid of Griezmann and Trincao.

Then they have Depay. That's it, I don't blame Koeman for Barca's woes this season. That attack is dead.

So Barca are really in desparate need of an experienced but not old, Galactico level signing who is not injury prone and scores goals.

2) But Money. How does Barca make such a signing? Well they have Frenkie de Jong, who while great is worth alot of money and has high wages. Lucky for Barca they happened to unravel 3 young midfield talents recently in Pedri, Gavi and Nico.

3) City aren't relying on Sterling and need a backup to Rodri and Gundogan for the future. Romeo Lavia is not ready. We did not get Kane so we can easily swap Sterling with Frenkie and send an extra 20m probably to make it go through no problem.

Considering these 3 things, I think this has atleast a 50% chance of happening.

This is a brilliant post

barcelona have a massive need for a guy like Sterling as mentioned they really only have fati and Depay , add Sterling into the mix and that is a very dangerous front 3

the emergence of gavi pedri and nico all from la masia on small wages .. led by busquets could lead a new era for xavi

frenkie could well be the one to make way, not for lack of talent as I’m sure xavi would love to keep him . But to get his high wages off the books and he is the one who holds a lot of value .. and then they can rebuild with what they’ve already got

with Fernandinho looking set to leave at the end of the season I believe there is definitely a space there that needs filling.

We need to plan ahead also, gundog and kev are both 30+ now who have had some bad injuries . The extra competion for places he would bring would only make us better

a straight swap with Sterling does make a lot of sense for both sides in my opinion

 

[nmc]

Sterling reportedly wants KdB wages (higher than FdJ currently)

The point of the Academy, from the CFG perspective, really is the cash. It helps so much with FFP. It’s been far more helpful to the other teams in the chain. Feeding the first team is a consequence for when the top of the top talents emerge, but anyone expecting the kids to be useful in the first team necessarily to be considered a success, will probably end up frustrated

On current form Raheem is handsomely remunerated and has no argument imho to ask for an increase - at best I’d extend him on existing terms. If he can get more elsewhere good luck to him… of course if he gets more at Barca it will be another example of a club paying beyond their means and ahead of the market… how much are Barca in debt? And who is ruining football?

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Tbf thats something we generally do very well as a club. Being ahead of the game, and being knee jerk, sums up the difference between City and the rags, and has done for a good few years.

Yeah in just 2 season we have

Carson (38) Walker (33) Ferna (38) Gundo (33) KDB (32) Mahrez (32)

You can see exactly why we are linked with CM's and wingers (adding Raz issue to Mahrez)

 

[blueparrot]

This made me feel old. Thankfully, he's "only" 24.

Not a having a pop at Grealish by any means but if you were to ask me who I'd want to see alongside Phil in midfield within the next couple of years then de Jong wins and it's not even a contest. He's absolutely brilliant.

If we didn't have either and were choosing one I'd agree with you. However we already have one who isn't going anywhere so it isn't a choice. My opinion is, if Bernardo stays I see our midfield 3 in 2 years coming from Rodri, Bernardo, Foden,Grealish, and an aging KDB, plus possibly Mcatee and Lavia. I only see us possibly spending on De Jong if Bernardo goes this summer, but hope he doesn't.

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

Generally, however, we sign two or three players per season so no worries on that score for me. Add in several academy lads who could come through (and they will be free hits as club trained) and we are in an exceptional position.