Barcelona could use superstar as a bargaining chip in deal for PSG midfielder | OneFootball

According to a recent report in SPORT, Barcelona might consider using Frenkie de Jong as part of a deal to strengthen their midfield, and one name that has emerged as a possible target is Fabian Ruiz, who currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

It appears that Barcelona’s interest in Ruiz is growing, but for this move to become a reality, they may need to offload de Jong to balance the squad and finances.

The Dutch midfielder’s relationship with the board, led by Joan Laporta, has reportedly soured over the past two years, making him a candidate for such a move.

Interestingly, De Jong was already close to joining PSG in 2019 before he signed with Barcelona, and Bayern Munich have also had him on their radar for some time.

Barcelona have a gem in their ranks

De Jong’s value has remained high, and two seasons ago, Manchester United showed interest in signing him for around €80 million. However, he turned down the offer, preferring to stay at Barcelona.

Barcelona could go for Fabian Ruiz in 2025. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

This season, he has yet to make an appearance due to a persistent ankle injury that remains somewhat mysterious. Although he feels discomfort, he has opted against undergoing surgery.

Currently, Barcelona face a shortage of options in the central midfield role. Marc Bernal is out for an entire year, leaving manager Hansi Flick to rely on young talent like Marc Casado and Eric Garcia.

The return of Gavi later this year should provide some relief, but Gavi, like Pedri, is more suited to playing as an inside midfielder rather than a holding one.

Given the situation, Deco understands that more work is needed to improve the team. Although they have managed to build a competitive squad with limited resources, it is clear that further reinforcements are necessary, especially to compete with Europe’s top clubs.

While Barcelona are reportedly working on extending de Jong’s contract, there is growing uncertainty about whether he will commit, leading to speculation that the club might seek alternatives in 2025.