Man Utd chiefs spotted in Barcelona to try to get Frenkie de Jong transfer over the line amid backdated wages dispute

MANCHESTER UNITED big-wigs have flown to Barcelona to try to get the transfer of Frenkie de Jong over the line.

Chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough were snapped in the Spanish city on Monday.

United have agreed a fee of £55million for the 25-year-old Dutch midfielder.

But there is a major sticking point over his backdated wages at Barcelona.

De Jong agreed to a wage reduction during the pandemic to help the cash-strapped club and is owed £24m from that.

Barca want United to pay it but the Old Trafford board are adamant they will not.

So far United have landed only one player for new boss Erik ten Hag in left-back Tyrell Malacia.

And yesterday he emphasised how desperate he is to get more recruits in.

Ten Hag said: “In my first press conference I said already we are definitely searching for players in midfield, we also have a need in offence.

"We are still looking for players.

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“It's going to be a long season but a season that is quite unusual due to the World Cup.

"So you need to be prepared for this and need more players than in a normal season.

“We want to add the right players. If the opportunity is there, we will strike.”

Christian Eriksen is expected to join the club this coming week.

But Ten Hag’s former club Ajax are asking too much for winger Antony, they want £67m and United have offered £51m.

Likewise they want more than the £42.5m United have offered for Lisandro Martinez.