Frenkie de Jong’s agents have arrived in Barcelona for a ‘meeting’ as Chelsea are closer to a transfer agreement for the midfielder.
However the Blues still follow a big battle to push home the £77.5million advantage they hold over Manchester United.
The 25-year-old’s future has been thrown into huge doubt ever since the transfer window opened all this time ago.
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Initially, it looked as though he was destined to join up with Erik ten Hag’s side. However, a lack of Champions League football has forced United to focus, and their focus is on an alternative £77.5m transfer swoop.
This has allowed Todd Boehly the freedom to take his time in negotiations, and the latest reports from indicate that a fee is close to being agreed between the two teams, which will be step one of the process done.
The main one which has cost United in this situation despite certain media outlets reaffirming their confidence to land the Holland star is that any interested club will need to convince the player to leave Barcelona.
The ongoing deferred contract wages dispute is disrupting everything. It is reported that Boehly is ready to clear off the €17m debt that Barca owes to De Jong, which could speed up the process.
The Catalan giants, though, are threatening further legal action according to The Athletic, which could complicate things even more.
In order for this situation to be resolved one way or another, that will depend on de Jong agreeing to a reduced salary contract like Gerard Pique has done or to cut ties after this dispute. And the former Ajax star’s agents are in a ‘meeting’ in Barcelona to settle these things, as per ESPN.
Spanish Journalist Gerard Romero has revealed that Chelsea are now in the ‘final stretch’ in agreeing to a fee with Barcelona.