Barcelona president outlines what Frenkie de Jong wants as Manchester United agree Adrien Rabiot fee

Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists Frenkie de Jong wants to stay at the Catalan club this summer - and they want to keep the midfielder, despite agreeing to sell him to Manchester United.

United agreed an €85million fee with Barcelona for the Dutch international last month, but completion of the deal has been held up by a wage deferral the player is owed.

The Manchester Evening News understands there was an acceptance late last week that United had to pursue alternative midfielders and they have since agreed a fee in principle with Juventus for midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

READ MORE: United agree fee for Adrien Rabiot but face task of negotiating with his mother

United have not ended their pursuit of De Jong, but the player's preference has always been to stay at Barcelona if possible this summer.

The 25-year-old came on at half-time and scored in Barcelona's 6-0 friendly win over Pumas UNAM on Sunday, and after the match, Laporta was asked about the player's future again.

"He is a Barca player of great quality and we want him to stay," said the club president. "He has offers, but we want him to stay, and he wants to stay too."

United sources said fall-back targets were being kept "warm" with a deal for De Jong in the balance, but a move for Rabiot would rely on negotiating personal terms with the player's agent - his mother.

Rabiot's mother, Veronique, is the "only stumbling block" as Ten Hag's side has to agree to satisfactory personal terms with the Frenchman.

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