De Jong set for Ajax stay despite Barcelona interest

Barcelona target Frenkie de Jong will stay at Ajax this season unless an “absurd” offer materialises before the end of the transfer window.

The LaLiga champions have been consistently linked with a move for the midfielder, who made 16 starts in the Eredivisie in 2017-18.

De Jong, 21, rubbished recent reports in Spain claiming Ajax would sanction a deal if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

However, he acknowledged Barca have shown interest and that a change in circumstances was not out of the question.

“Certainly there has been interest from Barcelona… but now the newspapers are inventing things,” De Jong told broadcaster Ziggo Sport.

“In principle I will stay, but you never know in football.

“Maybe there will be a club in four days that offers an absurd amount so Ajax says ‘go’. You can never predict it, but the chance is a very big chance I will stay at Ajax.”

De Jong played 90 minutes as Ajax beat Standard Liege on Tuesday to tee up a Champions League play-off round with Dynamo Kiev.

103 – Frenkie de Jong had more touches than any other player in Ajax v Standard (103) and lost possession with only nine of those touches. Foundation. pic.twitter.com/XukO4ORuJm

— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) August 14, 2018