Manchester United have reportedly been beaten by fellow rivals Chelsea to acquire the services of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The Blues’ camp is growing more and more confident after United’s recent struggles that they will be the ones to land the 25-year-old midfielder this summer.
De Jong has been a long term target of United, who even agreed a deal in principle to sign him with Barcelona. The Red Devils were ready to pay a guaranteed £63 million plus add-ons worth £9 million to reunited De Jong with his former boss Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. However, the Dutch player’s strong desire for Champions League football stalled the deal.
Frenkie de Jong prefers Chelsea over United given the lure of Champions League football
While Frenkie de Jong was first adamant on his decision to stay put at Camp Nou, he reportedly has accepted he may have to leave this summer. However, the midfielder has been constantly resisting to put pen to paper on an already agreed deal to Man United. De Jong wants to continue to feature in the Champions League which United cannot provide him.
The Devils finished sixth last season and hence will have to make do with the second tier Europa League. Enter Chelsea, who are ready to take advantage of the situation and snap up the former Ajax midfielder. The Blues were monitoring this case after their new owner Todd Boehly had met with Barca president Joan Laporta last month in the Catalan City.
Chelsea are now brimming with confidence of landing Frenkie de Jong, since they can ensure his Champions League journey continues. Moreover, they are also ready to match, or even surpass United’s package of £72 million for the midfielder. The Blues’ boss Thomas Tuchel has requested midfield reinforcements be brought in since the decline of Jorginho and injury concerns of N’Golo Kante are worrisome.
Hence, Tuchel feels De Jong is the man to orchestrate his midfield for years to come. However, one last hurdle is De Jong wanting his current employers to pay his differed wages from last season which amount up to £17 million. But the Laporta board claims the contract extension, with altered wage structure his penned under the last regime of Josep Bartomeu is ‘criminal’ and the club could take legal measures as well.
Frenkie de Jong risks going to the court with his club until he signs a new contract with a significant pay-cut. The player and the club are now at a stand-off as new reports suggest De Jong has accepted to leave Camp Nou. And Stamford Bridge is his preferred destination over Old Trafford given the Champions League.
Boehly is slated to lead the negotiations to bring in De Jong to West London since the Catalans too want Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso. After a long tussle over a number of players this summer between the two, the change of guards between De Jong and Alonso may repair the two clubs’ relations as well.