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Todd Boehly could sanction a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong if Thomas Tuchel decides he “likes” the Barcelona midfielder, according to Ben Jacobs.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is extremely keen on signing De Jong this summer but the player is not keen on leaving Barcelona for the Red Devils
Cucurella, De Jong among five transfers we still want to see happen this summer…
Chelsea have been linked with the Dutch midfielder, however, they are yet to make an official bid.
Speaking to The Blues Brother on YouTube, CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs discussed the Blues’ potential interest in De Jong.
Jacobs gave a huge summary, explaining Tuchel and Boehly’s stance on the matter and revealed that the 25-year-old would ‘prefer’ to join Chelsea over United.
He said: “I was with Joan Laporta in New York only a few days ago and in an exclusive interview with CBS he said very clearly when Todd Boehly and him met for a meal… there was no discussion of De Jong.
“The reality of the situation with De Jong is that there’s absolutely nothing advanced (with Chelsea). Thomas Tuchel likes the player and from Boehly’s perspective, if Tuchel likes a player, he becomes interested in a player.
“The truth is that Boehly doesn’t know a great deal about De Jong or any of these targets, he is reliant on his football department and his manager. What he is able to do is negotiate quickly and make things happen.
“If Thomas Tuchel says De Jong becomes a priority after defensive reinforcements are found then Chelsea might move and they’re certainly monitoring the situation because the manager actually does like the player. He also liked (Ousmane) Dembele though and Chelsea didn’t move.
“What I do know from being out in New York with Barcelona and talking to sources is that De Jong would prefer a move to Chelsea over Manchester United.
“That is bad news for Erik ten Hag because they have painstakingly agreed a base fee of around €65million plus add ons. There are so many moving parts to point out and this is why Chelsea haven’t moved.
“You can’t, if you’re Chelsea at this point, bid for De Jong and get him, that is just fact, and the reason for that is because Barcelona are juggling three or four eventualities before a final decision is made.
“It’s not about what Chelsea want to do if they were to move. It’s not about what Manchester United want to do having agreed a fee. The whole transfer is down to Barcelona and their control of it.
“Option number one is that De Jong finally agrees to a 50 per cent pay cut, then he will stay at the football club. Xavi actually really likes him because even though Jules Kounde has arrived he has the ability to play in both midfield and as a centre-back as well and if he takes a pay cut I think that will be the end of (it).
“That is option one; at the moment De Jong doesn’t want to do that.
“Option number two is he continues on his long-term contract and his current wages. That’s the player’s preference and to stay at Barcelona.
“Barca might try to drive him out because they feel that he is overpaid in comparison to what they can afford and at the same time they need the space on their wage bill in order to register new players.
“As Barcelona try and sign more players they might tell De Jong explicitly, despite what they said in public: ‘You are no longer needed at this football club’ and that might change the player’s mentality and if Chelsea learn of that, that’s when they could move.
“Option number three, this is why nobody can move now and Chelsea haven’t, deep down, Barcelona want Bernardo Silva and when their third lever is activated which is more money by selling a percentage of their television rights, they will try and get Bernardo Silva and Laporta talking to me made that very, very clear.
“If Bernardo Silva comes in that is further reiteration that De Jong is surplus to requirements and if Silva was to come in… then I think De Jong would be even more inclined to jump ship.”
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