Chelsea ‘can get Frenkie de Jong deal done’ if they offer Barcelona a further £8m

Chelsea have made a £33 million bid for Frenkie de Jong and it's understood that Barcelona are prepared to let the Dutchman leave if the Blues offer just a little bit more

Posted Monday, January 17, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

Chelsea are honing in on a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong with the two clubs said to be just £8 million apart in their valuation of the player.

The 24-year-old hasn't quite found his feet since joining from Ajax and the cash-strapped Catalan club are prepared to let the Dutchman leave this year.

The emergence of youngsters Gavi, Nico Gonzalez and Pedri has strengthened manager Xavi's options in midfield and de Jong is no longer considered essential.

According to Spanish outlet El Nacional, Chelsea have made an opening offer of £33 million for him and while Barcelona are holding out for £50 million, it's understood they'd be willing to drop the price to around the £41 million mark.

Frenkie de Jong has struggled at Barcelona, and could be set to join Chelsea

Bayern Munich are also said to be interested with Julian Nagelsmann supposedly a big fan of the midfielder, but the German giants are yet to table a bid.

De Jong has struggled to replicate the form he produced at Ajax before sealing a £65 million move to Barcelona in 2019.

It felt like a match made in heaven, particularly with the stylistic similarities between Ajax and Barcelona, but the Holland international has looked a shadow of his former self in La Liga.

What hasn't helped is Barcelona's catastrophic fall from grace over the past couple of years, with financial mis-management reducing the once great European powerhouse to a side now struggling to make the top four.

The presence of Sergio Busquets has arguably also caused problems.

De Jong excelled as a deep-lying 'regista' at Ajax, but has had to surrender the role to Busquets and often finds himself in quite advanced positions, something that doesn't particularly play to his strengths.

But Barcelona's loss could be Chelsea's gain with the Blues keen to find a long-term replacement for Jorginho, who turns 31 this year.

Injuries to N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic have also left them light in midfield this season and Thomas Tuchel is understandably keen to bolster his squad, especially with Saul Niguez set to return to Atletico Madrid at the end of the season.