Frenkie de Jong refuses transfer to Chelsea or Manchester United

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong has now rejected the chance to join Chelsea according to Forbes’ journalist Tom Sanderson.

The Dutch international has refused to join Premier League clubs Manchester United and Chelsea this summer.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly met with Barcelona’s executives earlier in the summer, and they had a meal in Spain.

De Jong would have been one of the topics of discussion amongst the many different deals the two clubs are engaged in.

Thomas Tuchel is pushing for the 25-year-old as he looks to add competition to his midfield. With N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic missing many games last season due to injuries, the German manager is keen to bring in midfield reinforcements.

Tuchel might have to look elsewhere for additions, as de Jong is intent on staying put. The saga has been one of the longest-running stories of this transfer window.

Barcelona are licking their financial wounds and would like to sell the club’s highest earner and most valuable financial asset. De Jong has a £360,000-per-week contract that runs until 2026.

The problem is that the player does not want to leave the Catalan club. There is also the issue of £17m in deferred wages from the pandemic period to resolve.

The situation continues to get complicated, especially with reports that La Liga are not accepting Barcelona’s request to register new players.

Signing Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Raphinha, Jules Kounde and Robert Lewandowski, while renewing Ousmane Dembele’s deal does not show a club struggling financially.

The club has also been pulling economic levers by mortgaging future earnings to survive.

De Jong has decided to stay with the club, rejecting any transfer moves, and there is no indication he will take a pay cut.

United have agreed a fee with Barcelona, but the player has refused to move. They still hope that having Erik ten Hag on their side will convince him to join them.