Chelsea ‘are in direct talks with Barcelona over Frenkie de Jong’ as Blues looks to snatch Manchester United’s top target even after Old Trafford club agreed £71m transfer fee
- Chelsea are reportedly hopeful of beating Manchester United to Frenkie de Jong
- The Blues are now in talks with the Catalan giants to sign the Holland midfielder
- The 25-year-old remains the top target for new Man United boss Erik ten Hag
Chelsea are reportedly hopeful of beating Manchester United to signing midfielder Frenkie de Jong this summer after entering talks with Barcelona.
The Blues are willing to match United’s agreed fee of £71million for the Holland international and can offer De Jong a continuation of Champions League football this season.
United have not given up the pursuit of a player manager Erik ten Hag made the priority signing of his first summer but De Jong is reluctant to move to Old Trafford and play in the Europa League.
Chelsea are in talks with Barcelona over signing midfielder Frenkie de Jong this summer
Thomas Tuchel’s side are now in direct talks with the Catalan giants and are optimistic of being able to agree a deal with the 25-year-old, according to The Athletic.
Despite Chelsea’s interest, de Jong is still United’s top transfer target, as new boss ten Hag would like a reunion with his former Ajax midfielder.
The transfer saga has rumbled on for over three months now, but United remain undeterred in their pursuit of the Dutch international.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are now in talks with the Catalan giants and are optimistic of a deal
De Jong is still top of United’s list, as Erik ten Hag would like a reunion with his former Ajax star
De Jong is said to be happy at Barcelona, but the Catalan giants have finances to consider and if they wish to appease LaLiga and register a whole host of new signings, the midfielder would be the logical departure.
The Spanish giants have openly revealed their desire to sell de Jong in order to help them register new summer signings Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, and Jules Kounde.
The holdup in the deal, however, is due to an outstanding amount in the region of £17m in back payments owed to De Jong by Barca after deferring payments on his wages during the pandemic.
Despite selling off various TV rights and assets to fund their summer spending spree, Barcelona don’t have the money to pay de Jong back. If they did, they wouldn’t be able to register some of their signings.
Quite rightfully, de Jong wants to be paid what he is owed. Barca would like to keep him, but realise that’s an unlikely scenario, so much so that president Joan Laporta has suggested de Jong should take a drastic pay cut if he really wants to stay.
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