Barcelona president Joan Laporta would rather sell Frenkie de Jong than pay his enormous salary over the remaining four years of his contract.

Marca says should De Jong see out the remaining four years on his current deal, Barcelona will pay the player £75m in wages.

The report states that the reason this figure appears so astronomical is owing to the enormous financial deal that the club initially awarded the midfielder with in 2019. It is believed this amounts to around £12m per year.

Barca's financial problems suffered during the past two years saw it agreed deferred payments to De Jong were to be paid after their financial footing was more secure.

De Jong is said to have reduced his salary considerably over the pandemic-hit seasons, with it reducing from £12m to £2.5m in 2021-22 and then to £7.75m last season.

It is reported that De Jong's fixed salary could double by next season. If he were paid £7.75m last season, owing to his deferred payments this could rise to around £15m next season. Then, they say, he will also be owed £2.5m in bonuses.

The next season, 2023-24, will see his salary increase even further.

As such, Barca's board are eager to sell the midfielder, with Manchester United and Chelsea in contact.