Maximum tension! De Jong's Barca rift may not help Chelsea or Man Utd
Robin Bairner
- 10 Aug 2022 11:22 BST
- 3 min read
Frenkie de Jong’s relationship with Barcelona is at breaking point as the Netherlands international continues to be linked with a move to Chelsea or Manchester United.
The Stamford Bridge side appear to be firmly in the driving seat, with reports from Spain suggesting that Chelsea have reached an agreement over a fee with the player.
Man Utd have been in that position for weeks, but are set to give up on De Jong and move to their ‘Plan B’ alternative of Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot. Until that deal is concluded, though, they will be active in this saga.
But although Chelsea have reached a deal, they will be hard pressed to reach personal terms with De Jong, who has grown increasingly frustrated with Barcelona’s behaviour.
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Barcelona using De Jong contract as a 'weapon'
Indeed, Sport reports that there is “maximum tension” between the player and the club.
Barcelona have been trying for weeks to get De Jong to take a pay cut, which would cost him over €40 million, to fall in line with the club’s new salary structure. This is something that he has resisted, despite reports suggesting the club could file a lawsuit against him over his new deal.
It is stated that he believes that Barca are using his contract as a “weapon” to pressure him into deciding his future.
While this may have forced De Jong out of the club, he is instead digging his heels in and appears determined to stand his ground. He has “no intention of leaving or negotiating a salary reduction” and also wants payment for wages he has deferred in the past.
Negotiations have broken down between the parties, with the agents of the midfielder angry that the player’s contract has effectively been leaked publicly.
Indeed, it is reported: “Chelsea and Man Utd want to take advantage of the Dutchman’s lack of confidence in Barcelona, but the player is still entrenched and the solution is very complicated.”
De Jong completing a transfer to one of the Premier League clubs, then, cannot be discounted, but neither does it look imminent.
