Chelsea will reportedly look to sign Barcelona mainstay Frenkie de Jong in a deal worth €80 million in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Frenkie de Jong is the subject of interest from Chelsea. The Blues are surprisingly in the market for a midfielder heading into the summer transfer window. And they are ready to cough up €80 million to land the Barcelona mainstay.
Frenkie de Jong and his Barcelona Journey
Frenkie de Jong has had a topsy-turvy ride since joining Barcelona from Ajax in July 2019. The 26-year-old has come leaps and bounds in the last half a decade, establishing himself as a mainstay in the middle of the park for the Blaugrana. In addition, he is a pivotal figure for the Netherlands, turning out 54 times thus for his national side.
The Dutch midfielder has turned out 27 times thus far for Barcelona this term, chipping in with two goals. But Barcelona’s never-ending financial issues mean they might have to cash in on high-value assets in the summer transfer window. Such a situation has piqued the interest of many high-profile clubs.
Recent reports have linked the former Ajax midfielder with several Premier League bigwigs, including Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United are also keen on securing de Jong’s services in the summer transfer window. But Chelsea might be his next destination if he leaves Barcelona, with the West London club ready to break the bank to land him.
Chelsea Want de Jong
The report suggests that the Blues are willing to cough up €80 million to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona. But Chelsea’s interest in the Dutchman is surprising, considering Mauricio Pochettino has a stacked midfield unit. They signed Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, and Lesley Ugochukwu in the two transfer windows in 2023.
In addition, the Chelsea squad has other midfielders like Carney Chukwuemeka and Conor Gallagher. But Gallagher’s future is uncertain amid Chelsea’s struggles to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. So, de Jong might be a solid addition if Gallagher and another midfielder leave this summer.
However, the 26-year-old has repeatedly insisted he does not want to leave Barcelona anytime soon. So, with de Jong not interested in a summer departure, Chelsea might have to look elsewhere for a new midfielder.
