Todd Boehly, the owner of Chelsea, is reportedly a big fan of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and is planning a £70 million transfer bid to sign him. This move could potentially thwart Manchester United’s efforts to sign the midfielder. Last summer, de Jong was linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United agreeing to pay around £72 million for his services, while Chelsea wanted to take him on loan. However, he ended up staying at Barcelona after the club put him under an ultimatum to leave or cut his salary.
According to Football Insider, Boehly has made signing de Jong a top priority this summer and is willing to offer £70 million to secure his services. This could test Barcelona’s resolve, especially as the club is facing financial difficulties and may be forced to sell some of its most valuable assets.
Despite this, de Jong is said to be happy at Barcelona and has been a key player in Xavi’s side, which is currently leading the LaLiga title race. Xavi has praised de Jong’s performance and leadership, stating that he is in a great moment, like the whole team.
However, Chelsea may still face competition from Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag reportedly keen to reunite with his former Ajax star. Barcelona is said to be preparing for life without de Jong and has lined up Manchester City and Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan as his replacement.
If Chelsea manages to sign de Jong, it would be a major coup for the club and would add significant depth to their midfield. De Jong is known for his technical ability, vision, and passing range, making him an ideal fit for Thomas Tuchel’s possession-based style of play. He would also provide competition for the likes of Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, and N’Golo Kante.
Moreover, de Jong’s versatility would be an added bonus for Chelsea. He can play as a deep-lying playmaker, a box-to-box midfielder, or even as an attacking midfielder. This flexibility would allow Tuchel to rotate his midfielders and keep them fresh throughout the season.
In conclusion, Todd Boehly’s reported interest in Frenkie de Jong is a sign of Chelsea’s ambition to strengthen their squad ahead of next season. While it remains to be seen if they can beat Manchester United to his signature, signing de Jong would be a major statement of intent from the Blues. With Tuchel at the helm, Chelsea has already shown that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League and Europe. Adding de Jong to their ranks would only make them stronger.