Gary Neville has hinted that Chelsea could become Frenkie de Jong's next destination as he continues to be linked with a move away from Barcelona. The 25-year-old is a big target for Manchester United this summer, but the Premier League club have failed to reach an agreement with Barcelona so far.
Chelsea have also been loosely linked with a move for De Jong and football.london understands there is a long-term interest from the Blues in the Netherlands international. Thomas Tuchel has plenty of options in the centre of midfield, but there is a school of thought that it can be massively improved this summer.
De Jong is someone who has an undeniable talent, and at 25, he's still fairly young. Barca, whose financial troubles have been well documented, may be looking to get some of their star players off their books to raise funds.
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Barcelona boss Xavi recently admitted he was unsure where De Jong will be playing his football beyond the summer. Xavi said: "I don't know if he's going to stay here.
"I have never sent Frenkie a message. There is still time, and a lot of things can still happen."
Man United have been in for De Jong all summer long, but Chelsea can offer two things the Manchester-based club cannot: UEFA Champions League football and the lure of living in London. Neville, who represented Man United for almost 20 years, has now shared on Twitter some inside information he heard recently.
Neville tweeted: "I was in Miami when Barca were there playing two weeks ago, and I got told (third hand) De Jong preferred staying at Barca or Chelsea and London. It wasn't a concrete source, but this follows that thought."
As per The Athletic, Chelsea are keeping a close eye on De Jong and his situation at the Nou Camp. Tuchel is said to be a keen admirer of the Holland midfielder.
De Jong is thought to be owed plenty of money by his current employers, Barcelona, and he understandably wants to collect every cent. If he did leave Barca, though, then two-times Champions League winners, Chelsea could be a very attractive proposition for him.
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