Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the club must register their squad for the new season by August 13, handing Manchester United a deadline to sign Frenkie de Jong.
New United manager Erik ten Hag has made De Jong his priority signing for the season but, over two months later, is no closer to landing the Dutch star.
A fee has reportedly been agreed with Barcelona for around £65million, but the player continues to be unconvinced by a move to Old Trafford.
Barca, though, remain in financial difficulty despite splashing out on the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde, so it is understood they would welcome selling De Jong to help balance the books and, therefore, be able to register their new signings.
Speaking at Kounde's unveiling, Laporta said: "We are doing everything possible to register the signings. We have to do it before August 13."
Adding that he was "optimistic" over doing so, he continued: "Let's hope that the league sees it that way too."
