London giants Chelsea have reportedly tabled a deal worth €18 million per year to Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong to complete a late move.
According to reputed Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, Frenkie de Jong might seal a late exit from Barcelona before the summer transfer window shuts down. The Dutch defender has received a lucrative contract offer from Chelsea, worth €18 million per year, to move to Stamford Bridge ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
Frenkie de Jong has endured a summer transfer window from hell, as he remains on the transfer list for Barcelona despite being one of their most reliable performers. With the Blaugrana still keen on signing Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, de Jong is expendable at Camp Nou. And that has been reflected in his status in the Barcelona first-team squad this season.
The 25-year-old has started only one of the three games in La Liga thus far, and that also happened because Sergio Busquets was suspended. So de Jong will likely share game-time this term, and his situation at FC Barcelona has captured the attention of several European giants, including Chelsea.
The interest from Chelsea stems from an indifferent start to the 2022/23 term, which has followed a sub-par pre-season campaign. With N’Golo Kante’s fitness issues not subsiding and Jorginho on the wrong side of 30, Thomas Tuchel needs an injection of youthful exuberance in his squad’s midfield unit.
While Conor Gallagher might have hoped to win over Tuchel, recent reports have heavily linked him with several Premier League clubs. Frenkie de Jong is thus a viable target for Chelsea amid uncertainties surrounding his Barcelona future. And according to Gerard Romero, the Blues have offered the Dutch midfielder a contract worth €18 million per year.
The €18 million-a-year deal might be lucrative for de Jong, especially with Barcelona reportedly approaching his agent to discuss a possible wage cut. And while recent reports have suggested that Barcelona will not sell de Jong before the summer transfer window shuts down, Chelsea’s late approach might change the equation.
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It will be interesting to see if Chelsea’s €18 million-a-year contract offer does the trick and gets de Jong closer to the exit door at Camp Nou. Barcelona might not be opposed to the idea of cashing in on the 25-year-old midfielder before the summer transfer window shuts down.
