Barcelona captain attracts heavy interest from Premier League giants – report | OneFootball

Barcelona are once again at a crossroads with Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder, long seen as the club’s ideal anchor for the present and future, is now being heavily pursued by some of England’s most powerful clubs.

According to a report from Fichajes, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City are all preparing to battle it out for his signature ahead of the 2025/26 season.

And unfortunately, with Barcelona still constrained by financial issues and the midfielder’s contract renewal talks stalled, this is a scenario the Catalan giants can no longer ignore.

An important player for Barcelona

De Jong remains a vital figure in Barça’s midfield. He brings calm under pressure, unmatched ball progression, and positional awareness — qualities that have often gone underappreciated because of the chaos around him.

Despite speculation, he has consistently shown loyalty to the badge, turning down better financial offers in the past and publicly expressing his happiness in Barcelona.

That makes it even more frustrating that the club might now consider parting ways with a player of his calibre.

Premier League teams circling

Frenkie de Jong wanted in the Premier League. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

The Premier League’s interest is understandable. At Liverpool, new boss Arne Slot views De Jong as the perfect cornerstone for a midfield rebuild, flanked by Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.

At Arsenal, Mikel Arteta is eyeing him to add composure and verticality alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

And at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola’s admiration is well-known — De Jong could slot seamlessly into a double pivot with Rodri and extend City’s tactical supremacy in Europe.

What is Barcelona’s stand?

From a Barcelona perspective, letting De Jong go would be more than a financial decision — it would be a sporting mistake.

At 27, he is in his prime, and no one in the current squad replicates his blend of composure, agility, and footballing IQ. Losing him would mean losing a rare profile that took years to develop.

Yes, his current contract is heavy on wages, but rather than entertaining bids from abroad, the priority should be securing a sustainable renewal.

Barcelona cannot afford to keep repeating the same mistake: selling essential players only to scramble for replacements that rarely match the same level.