Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has said that Barcelona are in advanced talks to sign Sevilla striker Luuk De Jong on Deadline Day. However, there are no details on whether it is a loan or permanent transfer, but personal terms have already been agreed with the player and the two clubs are close to an agreement.

In 12 appearances, De Jong failed to find the net for Alan Pardew’s side and subsequently returned to Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.

From there, he was sold to PSV, where a move back to his homeland proved to be a turning point in his career. His 112 goals across five years in Eindhoven earned him a switch to Europa League specialists Sevilla in 2019.

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De Jong, indeed, played his part in the La Liga side warranting that tag after scoring twice in their final win over Inter Milan. 

Despite all this, de Jong is still holding a fairly low goal record of 19 in 94 outings in Spain, a move to Barcelona is close.

De Jong has been told by Julen Lopetegui he can leave following the arrival of Rafa Mir from Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this summer.

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Manager Ronald Koeman has previously worked with De Jong at international level with the Netherlands. According to several reports, Griezmann is closing in on a return to Atlético, and De Jong is Barça’s choice for his replacement.

Ronald Koeman worked with De Jong in the Dutch national team and the 31-year-old striker is no longer a starter under Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui, so a deal seems very likely here.