'Have to admit': £56m midfielder suggests he's thinking about changing clubs after rumours Liverpool want him
01/02/2025 09:00 AM
With the January transfer window now open, it remains to be seen if Liverpool take action midway through the season.
The Reds are top of the pile in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League and could be set for a historic season under Arne Slot.
Liverpool have shown over the years that they aren’t against buying players in January, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo joining the club midway through the season in recent years, among others.
And now, Frenkie de Jong, who has been linked with a move to Anfield, has made an honest claim on his future.
Liverpool target Frenkie de Jong admits he could leave Barcelona
De Jong has been with Barcelona since the summer of 2019 after bursting onto the scene at Ajax.
While there’s been no doubting his talent, he hasn’t really set the world alight at the Camp Nou and has struggled with injuries in recent seasons.
Nevertheless, some of the biggest clubs in the world have kept tabs on him, with Liverpool believed to hold a ‘firm interest’ in signing De Jong.
And now, the Dutch international has suggested in an interview with Voetbal International that he could be on the move in the future if things continue to go south at Barcelona.
"I have to admit that when I signed for Barcelona, I didn't imagine to win only 1 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey and 1 Spanish SuperCup after 4 years. I expected at least double, so that disappoints me.
Things happen on the road you can't predict. People think I want to stay at Barcelona forever because life outside football is so good here, and it IS good, but it's still less important to what happens on the pitch.
“If I would feel that I can't contribute enough, or if the team can't compete, I would be gone."
Do Liverpool need De Jong?
De Jong is valued at around £56m and while that’s more than justified for a player of his ability, he hasn’t really hit the heights that were expected of him when he joined Barcelona.
Liverpool need a number six as Ryan Gravenberch is the only quality option in that position, but with De Jong set to demand massive wages on top of a hefty transfer fee for Barcelona, they might have to look elsewhere.
Perhaps returning for Martin Zubimendi would be a better option for the Reds, with the Spanish midfielder still courted by some of the biggest clubs in the world.
