Frenkie de Jong has been handed an eye-opening wake-up call ahead of a potential exit from Barcelona. The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, and while Chelsea face tough competition from Manchester United, Thomas Tuchel has been handed a huge boost in his mission to sign the midfielder.
football.london understands that the west Londoners have liked the idea of signing the Netherlands international for a few years now. And while the Red Devils are said to be as eager, the Blues are confident De Jong will pen a deal at Stamford Bridge over Old Trafford.
It's believed that Chelsea are in talks with the Dutchman as Tuchel looks to arm his side with more creativity in midfield. However, there is currently no agreement in place, leaving scope for De Jong to sit back and consider his options.
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With Erik ten Hag winless and his side seemingly in free-fall this season, the Red Devils' start to the new campaign could be enough to deter De Jong from penning a deal at Old Trafford. United have failed to pick up a single point from their opening pair of Premier League clashes, with losses to Brighton and Brentford.
And, with the summer transfer window set to close on September 1, United only have two further games to transform their fortunes - Liverpool and Southampton. Nonetheless, De Jong is under pressure to decide his future at the Camp Nou.
With a move to the Premier League on the cards, the £88.8million-rated midfielder has told teammates in the dressing room that he'd rather join Chelsea over United, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. De Jong, who sees his contract at Barcelona expire in 2026, is said to earn close to £ 360,000 a week, making him one of the best-paid players.
But, the Spanish giants owe him £17million in deferred wages from the pandemic, according to The Telegraph. This obviously remains to be an issue.
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