Chelsea Set to Offer €100m for Man Utd Target Amid Desire to Depart
Chelsea are reportedly ready to make a substantial bid of £85 million (€100m) for Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona. The Dutch midfielder’s future at Barcelona has come under scrutiny once again, and Chelsea is looking to take advantage of the situation.
Manchester United had pursued a deal for de Jong throughout the summer of 2022, with their new manager Erik ten Hag making him a priority target. However, de Jong decided to stay at Barcelona despite the club being open to selling him.
Although de Jong played a crucial role in Barcelona’s La Liga title win last season, reports now suggest that he is open to the idea of leaving the club at the end of the current campaign. It is also rumored that the Barcelona hierarchy has doubts about the midfielder and is considering selling him to improve the club’s finances.
De Jong is one of Barcelona’s highest earners and still has two years left on his contract. However, there has been no progress in renewing his deal, and his representatives are aware that top clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain would be interested in signing him.
Manchester United has maintained their interest in de Jong and would be keen on a reunion with the midfielder. Chelsea, on the other hand, is willing to pay a significant amount and is prepared to offer €85m to secure the deal.
Chelsea has already spent £280m in rebuilding their midfield over the past year. The spree began with the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for £107m in January last year, followed by Moises Caicedo’s arrival for a club record £114m from Brighton in the summer. They also signed Romeo Lavia from Southampton for £58m, although he has struggled with injuries and fitness problems.
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has tried to negotiate a contract extension with de Jong, but the midfielder’s high salary has made it impossible to reach an agreement at this stage.
In conclusion, Chelsea is ready to make a substantial bid for Frenkie de Jong amid doubts about his future at Barcelona. Manchester United is also interested in signing the midfielder, who played a key role in Barcelona’s recent success. It remains to be seen where de Jong will end up, but one thing is for sure – top clubs are vying for his signature.