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Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing FC Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong in the ongoing summer window.
De Jong is contracted with Barcelona until 2026 and has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United. The latest club to join the race to land the talented Dutch midfielder is Chelsea. The Blues have begun discussions with Barcelona over De Jong’s transfer, reported The Sport.
Barcelona have labeled De Jong with a transfer fee of $81 million. However, Chelsea are preparing to offer $61 million to the Catalans, along with their target players Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta, according to Spanish outlet Relevo.
Barcelona have included Alonso and Azpilicueta in their list of top targets. During the recent negotiations between Chelsea and Barcelona for the two players, the Blues showed interest in De Jong. Chelsea had also asked about Memphis Depay and Sergino Dest in the past.
It has been weeks since Manchester United first got in touch with Barcelona over De Jong’s transfer. The Old Trafford side neither has reached an agreement with the Catalans nor with De Jong.
The fact that Chelsea can offer De Jong Champions League games, something Manchester United cannot in the upcoming season, would strengthen their case.
However, Barcelona chief Joan Laporta has once again gone public to make it clear that De Jong is not for sale.
“[Frenkie De Jong] is a Barca player. And unless we feel the need or the interest to sell him we won’t do it. Frenkie de Jong isn’t for sale. We know he has offers. And if at a given moment we are interested in selling him then we would think about it. But right now we won’t sell him. Even more, we are acquiring another Franck. Franck Kessie,” Laporta said in a recent interview, according to Sky Sports.
The 25-year-old player is due back at the Ciutat Esportiva next week to start pre-season but it’s still not clear if he will be part of the Barcelona squad next season.
Photo: AFP / Oli SCARFF
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