MANCHESTER UNITED have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati as Barcelona need to make big wage cuts, according to reports.
The Catalan giants remain in a bad financial state and pressure is mounting on them to resolve these issues.
LaLiga chief Javier Tebas has told the club they must reduce the amount they pay on salaries per year by £177million, claim Mundo Deportivo.
Barca could be forced to sell a number of top stars that are on hefty wages, handing United encouragement that they could snap up some of their players.
The likes of Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto both see their contracts at the Nou Camp expire at the end of this season, which would free up some cash, but more may be needed.
Jordi Alba, Franck Kessie, Ousmane Dembele and Ferran Torres may also depart.
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Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag has chased the signing of De Jong ever since he got the job, keen to rekindle his relationship with the player he coached at Ajax.
However, the 25-year-old himself and Barcelona have both blocked any transfer to the Premier League.
De Jong was left angry when he was owed a reported £400,000 in deferred wages by the club but it appears the disagreement has now been settled.
Man Utd are keen to add another central midfielder to the squad and the Red Devils may go back in for him this summer.
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They are also keen on winger Ansu Fati, who has made only nine starts this season and could therefore be available.
Barca want to keep the 20-year-old although they could reportedly consider bids of around £90million.
Fati has scored 25 goals in 89 games with the wonderkid’s progress halted by persistent injury problems.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
