Frenkie de Jong could reportedly head to England as Chelsea and Manchester United battle Paris Saint-Germain for the Barcelona midfielder.
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- Barcelona keen to offload De Jong
- Premier League giants & PSG show interest
- Blaugrana demand €100m for midfielder
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WHAT HAPPENED?
According to the Dutchman's future at Barcelona remains uncertain, with the midfielder understood to be open to a potential exit in the upcoming summer transfer window if a suitable offer is tabled. Despite efforts to negotiate a contract extension, no progress has been made, raising doubts about his continuity at the club. The situation is compounded by De Jong's status as the highest-paid player in the squad, with talks of substantial earnings exceeding €20 million (£17m/$25m) net annually for the last two seasons after he compromised on his wages during the pandemic.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Barcelona's sports director, Deco, has attempted to initiate discussions for a contract renewal until 2029, aiming to adjust the player's salary distribution over an extended period. However, negotiations have stalled, and the club may need to consider selling one of their key assets this summer despite the player previously resisting a sale as he wishes to succeed at Barcelona.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and United are closely monitoring the situation and it is reported that the Blues are ready to offer a transfer fee nearing €100 million (£85m/$108m), which is close to Barcelona's demands. It must be noted that the Manchester outfit had allegedly tabled an offer worth €85 million (£73m/$92m), including add-ons, which was accepted by the Catalan outfit but the move fell through due to the player's unwillingness to relocate.
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WHAT NEXT?
De Jong's decision will once again be key to push through any move in the summer. He has always maintained that he wants to "stay at Barcelona all his life" but the departure of Xavi and the club's eagerness to balance their books to comply with La Liga's Financial Fair Play regulations might lead the player to change his mind.
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