Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong could be headed for the Premier League in January — ESPN’s Insider Notebook has the latest. PLUS: How Man United hope to find De Gea’s heir.
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Frenkie de Jong in demand with Premier League giants
Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are ready to lead the race for Frenkie de Jong should the midfielder choose to quit Barcelona in January, sources have told ESPN.
Chelsea are thought to have received encouragement that De Jong may be willing to reconsider his future after deciding not to leave Camp Nou in the summer, despite Barca’s willingness to let the player leave.
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United made the running for months and eventually agreed a deal worth an initial €65 million, rising to around €85m including add-ons, before Chelsea made contact late in the window as De Jong stalled over a move to Old Trafford. However, the Netherlands international opted to stay in Spain despite huge pressure from Barcelona to force him out, as they sought to balance the books and comply with LaLiga’s salary cap.
De Jong has started just five matches in all competitions this season and Barcelona are facing the prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages, both factors which have given his Premier League suitors hope that a January deal could be struck.
Chelsea will be without N’Golo Kante for four months after the France international underwent hamstring surgery this week. Kante’s contract expires at the end of the season, while Jorginho is also yet to agree an extension. Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are pursuing a strategy of signing younger players to long contracts and sources have told ESPN they have a good relationship with HCM Sports Management, who count De Jong among their clients.
United remain interested but would have to juggle their finances after spending around €240m in the summer transfer window. Liverpool are also in the market for a central midfielder and sources said that the club have made contact with De Jong’s representatives.
Everything depends on De Jong softening his stance, however, to fire the starting pistol on a race for his signature. — James Olley, Rob Dawson
