Report: ‘Extraordinary’ player has told his teammates he would like to join Chelsea if he leaves his club this summer
Reports from Spain suggest that Frenkie de Jong has claimed he would prefer to join Chelsea if he is forced to leave Barcelona this summer.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Dutchman has told his teammates that Stamford Bridge has the potential to be a good location for him next season, although his desire is still to stay at the Nou Camp.
De Jong has been involved in one of the biggest transfer sagas in recent memory, with more than three months of uncertainty surrounding his future,
It has become apparent that Barcelona need to address their financial woes by selling the 25-year-old, with them still trying to register signings from their own busy window.
This is despite Xavi being a massive fan of the midfielder, with him describing him in the past as “extraordinary.”
They have paid big money for former Chelsea targets Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, as well as the free transfer of Andreas Christensen among others.
De Jong prefers Chelsea move
This has seen the Netherlands international become surplus to requirements to Xavi’s side, with Mundo Deportivo claiming that the Blues having Champions League football makes them favourites for the deal over fellow Premier League side Manchester United.
The Red Devils have been touted as great admirers of De Jong throughout the summer, and have based their entire transfer window around signing him.
However, their lack of Champions League football on offer as well as their own transfer issues has seemingly made De Jong hesitant to take the plunge to join his former manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
While the signing is in a position Chelsea don’t actively need to recruit in, the opportunity to try and prize someone the quality of De Jong away this easily does not come around often, so the club should seriously consider putting a lot in to getting it over the line.
Better yet, the signing would end rival club United’s interest in the central midfielder, sending them back to the drawing board.
