Frenkie de Jong has boosted the prospects of Chelsea and Manchester United as he does not want to remain with Barcelona.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the relationship between Frenkie de Jong and Barcelona has devolved into bitterness. The Dutch midfielder does not want to extend his stay with the Blaugrana, and the situation has boosted the prospects of suitors like Chelsea and Manchester United.
Frenkie de Jong and his Barcelona rollercoaster
Frenkie de Jong has endured a topsy-turvy ride since joining Barcelona from Ajax in a big-money deal in July 2019. While the Dutchman has been a dependable performer in the middle of the park for the Blaugrana, he has struggled with fitness issues in the last few years.
In addition, Barcelona’s precarious financial situation has impacted the 27-year-old, whose future has been the subject of constant speculation due to his high wages. Nevertheless, de Jong has not let that affect his performances on the pitch, although he has been in and out of the starting lineup this season.
The Dutch midfielder has managed only 343 minutes of game time across 12 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with one goal and one assist. In addition, the situation has become concerning for de Jong, whose relationship with Barcelona has soured. That has piqued the attention of Chelsea and Manchester United, with the two Premier League bigwigs working on the deal to sign him.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Manchester United hold a long-standing interest in Frenkie de Jong, with Erik ten Hag pushing to reunite with him when he was at Old Trafford. The Red Devils remain keen on signing the Barcelona playmaker, who can forge a solid long-term partnership with Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the park.
As for Chelsea, the West London club will not need a new midfielder unless they part ways with Enzo Fernandez. With the Argentine international being resurgent in recent weeks, his Chelsea future seems safe. Nevertheless, the Blues, like Manchester United, are working on a deal to sign de Jong from Barcelona.
With the 25-year-old Dutch midfielder not interested in extending his stay with Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United will likely fancy their prospects of signing him. It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for the Dutchman.