De Jong Injury Won't Alter Barcelona's Transfer Plans

Barcelona's management will not alter its summer transfer plans due to Frenkie de Jong's injury, despite the expected absence of the Dutch player for several months.

According to "Mundo Deportivo," coach Hans Flick is confident that he has enough alternatives within the team to compensate for the absence of the midfielder.

The newspaper reported that De Jong suffered an injury to the medial collateral ligament of his knee during the World Cup. Despite participating in three matches afterward, the duration of his absence has yet to be determined, as it depends on the possibility of him undergoing surgery, a step recommended by the club's medical staff.

Flick previously dealt with De Jong's absence towards the end of last season, where both Marc Bernal and Gavi excelled in the pivot role alongside Pedri, after the player chose not to risk a return with Barcelona holding a comfortable lead at the top of the league.

Bayern Munich sees Bernal and Gavi as the most prominent options to replace Frenkie de Jong, but the list of alternatives doesn't stop there. Flick has also relied on Marc Casado, despite the possibility of his departure during the current summer transfer window.

The German coach has also turned to Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen in this position, while Xavi Espart is naturally a defensive midfielder and has shown impressive performances in the Under-19 European Championship. Additionally, Flick has expressed admiration for what Brian Farinas has displayed in training.

The report confirmed that Flick has more than one solution within his squad, as he can also rely on the likes of Tomi Marquez, Firmin Lopez, and Dani Olmo, which gives him multiple options without needing to adjust Barcelona's plans in the transfer market.