Chelsea could be an option for Barcelona superstar Frenkie de Jong. (Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
According to the Mirror, Chelsea are planning to hijack a deal for Manchester United transfer target, Frenkie de Jong, from Barcelona this summer. New Chelsea owner and the club’s acting sporting director, Todd Boehly landed in Barcelona amidst such rumours.
Boehly is hoping to make a statement in his first summer transfer window as owner and snatching de Jong from the clutches of United could be seen as a power move. United have bid £56million to sign the Dutch midfielder, though the player is reluctant to leave Camp Nou.
Despite Barcelona president Joan Laporta claiming that the player is not for sale, their financial state could force them to sell him. De Jong joined Barcelona in 2019 and was a part of the famous Ajax squad that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2018/19 season under current United manager Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag had hoped for a reunion with his midfielder at United, but now Chelsea could derail such hopes. Barcelona are in talks with Chelsea to sign defenders Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta. It is expected that among that, de Jong will be a topic of discussion among the officials of both clubs.
Thomas Tuchel is hoping to add some new faces to his squad after seeing an exodus of players. Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Romelu Lukaku have all left. Alonso and Azpilicueta are also on the verge of leaving.
As such, Tuchel would be happy to add some new faces in every department. De Jong is considered as one of the best midfielders in Spain. His ability to unlock defences with his passes is quite a rare sight to see in other players.
With N’Golo Kante and Jorginho being past 30 years of age, Tuchel can’t afford to overwork them again next season. Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher and Billy Gilmour are the other options available to Tuchel, but he could do with another world-class midfielder.
De Jong would fit such a bill. However, he may not come cheap. If the Blues are to hijack the deal, it would be in their best interest to trump whatever offer Chelsea are making.
Gallagher and Gilmour have the potential to be quality midfielders in the future. De Jong being partnered with the two could help Chelsea secure their midfield department for years to come.
Chelsea can be said to have the upper hand against United for de Jong. The Blues can offer Champions League football to the player and arguably, a better chance of winning silverware than their rivals- although that is something no one can say for certain given the unpredictable nature of the sport.
If Chelsea can snatch him away from their rivals, it would help send out the message that the Blues mean business next season.
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