According to reports, Barcelona has threatened to file a criminal complaint over the contract extension Frenkie de Jong signed in 2020.

Manchester United's long and arduous pursuit of the 25-year-old continues to dominate rumors surrounding his future in the transfer market.

The Red Devils and Barcelona are thought to have reached an agreement for a £63 million contract, which could reach £71 million with add-ons.

Despite a contentious disagreement over his pay, Erik ten Hag's team has not yet been able to persuade the Netherlands international to leave Camp Nou.

De Jong was one of several players who agreed to defer their wages during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he is now requesting the money that is still owed to him.

The Catalan giants, who are eager to offload the ex-Ajax man in order to help balance the books, are allegedly owed as much as €18m (£15.1m), but he is refusing to budge on his position.

Barcelona could now take another dramatic turn in the situation, though, as The Athletic claims that the Blaugrana have broached the idea of criminal action over De Jong’s contract.

The midfielder initially signed a five-year deal at Camp Nou upon his arrival in 2019, and a two-year extension was agreed in October 2020 under Josep Maria Bartomeu’s reign.