Chelsea are holding direct talks with Barcelona to sign midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
This will come as a blow to Manchester United as the Red Devils have been chasing De Jong’s signature all summer, however, the player’s preference on his future destination once leaving Barcelona remains unknown.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea are speaking to Barcelona about the 25-year-old and are optimistic of striking a deal. It is worth noting – especially after reading this – that United previously struck an €85 million club-to-club agreement for De Jong.
David Ornstein reports: “Chelsea are also hoping to beat a domestic rival to another player, having rivalled Manchester United in the contest to recruit Dutch playmaker De Jong.”
The holdup remains because De Jong does not want to discuss his future until Barcelona pay the €17m he is owed in deferred wages.
There will be a significant backlash for the likes of John Murtough and Richard Arnold if United come up short in their pursuit to seal a deal for De Jong. Who will the alternatives be? Please don’t say Ruben Neves or Youri Tielemans…
Erik ten Hag has named his targets and it’s not a good look that United have thus far failed to sign the player he wants more than the rest.
Let us know in the comments section if you think United will win the race to sign De Jong this summer.
We should sign him
This is just like every other season this yr we are suppose to be moving in the right direction but yet again waisted weeks on a spercific target for us to progress as a team this yr we need 2 midfielders minimum once again signs are there for all to see the powers that be couldent run a toffee shop out the top 6 at best
I think people will see that United have done their bit in striking an agreement with Barcelona. De Jong doesn’t want to move until he gets his money. If he does move before his contract ends then he doesn’t get the wages owed to him.
He has also said he doesn’t want to go to Utd and would rather be at Chelsea. We should have stopped wasting our time with him weeks ago and looked for a better alternative.
Why we keep going for players that don’t want to be at Utd bewilders me. FORGET about De Jong.