De Jong makes Chelsea transfer decision after phone call with Todd Boehly
Todd Boehly, a co-owner of Chelsea, met with Frenkie de Jong directly about a prospective transfer to Stamford Bridge, but he did not receive the response he was hoping for.
The 25-year-old has been sought after by Chelsea and Manchester United for several months, and is at the center of the biggest transfer saga of the summer.
However, Barca is eager to cash in and offload the high-earning Dutchman, and they are unable to sign some of their new acquisitions until they have secured a sizable sum for De Jong.
The former Ajax playmaker, who has already rejected a transfer to Old Trafford despite United agreeing to a £73 million deal, has little desire to leave Catalonia and is content and settled in Barcelona.
Given that United’s inability to make the Champions League was one of the major factors working against them, Chelsea was regarded to have a better chance of persuading De Jong to switch from La Liga to the Premier League.
However, the Blues will compete in Europe’s top league this year, and De Jong and his family are believed to prefer moving to London to Manchester.
However, after speaking with Chelsea manager Boehly recently, De Jong reportedly turned down a move to England once more, according to the Spanish publication Relevo.
Since Marina Granovskaia and other club employees left after Roman Abramovich sold the team, the American businessman has served as the club’s interim sporting director.
Boehly has already been very active this summer, bringing in Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling, and Marc Cucurella. With the addition of De Jong, he hoped to strengthen Chelsea’s midfield, which Thomas Tuchel has noted as being a touch on the shabby side.
The Dutch international is Barca’s most marketable commodity, and the Catalan club granted Chelsea permission to meet with him after the Blues hinted they would match United’s offer.
De Jong allegedly underlined his wish to stay at Camp Nou and complete his contract with Barcelona after listening to Boehly’s pitch during a protracted phone chat.
Despite the rejection, Chelsea will keep trying to persuade De Jong to join Stamford Bridge, even though there is a perception that the transaction may be too delicate and challenging to close this summer.