Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has struggled to find solutions to the recent decline in La Liga results, which has gone hand in hand with the lack of contributions from players returning from injury. Among them, no case is followed more intensively than that of Frenkie de Jong.
The Dutchman has not found his best form since returning to the field in October after a five-month absence. So far, Flick has been his main defender as he feels De Jong, at his best, is a perfect fit for his plans for the team. However, Sport says his opinion has changed in recent months, and now that he has seen De Jong in action, he too has his doubts.
The German coach is now open to selling De Jong next summer in favor of a more physical and positional midfielder, someone who can compete with Marc Casado as the deepest-lying midfielder in his formation. There are also doubts whether De Jong wants to stay if he is not going to get a starting role.
De Jong's contract situation is a headache for Barcelona, with no sign of a contract extension on the horizon. His contract expires in the summer of 2026 and the Blaugrana are reportedly willing to accept just €20 million for him, but there is a feeling within the Catalan club that his contract may expire.
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