MANCHESTER UNITED transfer target Frenkie de Jong will only leave Barcelona for Chelsea, according to reports.
The Red Devils have agreed a £71.5million deal to sign the midfielder but De Jong does not want to complete the switch.
Frenkie de Jong would only consider leaving Barcelona to join Chelsea
De Jong is settled at Barcelona having purchased a house in the city earlier in the year – he is also keen to play Champions League football.
Unlike United, Chelsea will offer him the opportunity to play in Europe’s premier competition.
And according to Spanish outlet Sport, De Jong would only consider leaving to play for the Blues.
He reportedly appreciates the effort made by Erik ten Hag and United to sign him, but the Red Devils are not an enticing prospect for the Netherlands international.
That leaves the two clubs stuck, while Chelsea are yet to match United’s bid.
But they have reportedly told Barcelona they are working on a “formal proposal” for the 25-year-old – and owner Todd Boehley has held talks with Barca chiefs about De Jong.
Barcelona also held talks with De Jong about his future during the club’s pre-season tour of the US, with the midfielder not changing his mind about wanting to stay.
He has featured in defence during pre-season but is determined to stay and fight for a midfield place under Xavi.
The Barca boss said of De Jong: “We’ve had private conversations that are very important and that I will not reveal here. He’s a key player, but then there’s the economic situation and Financial Fair Play.”
“I’m not sending messages to anyone. I like him a lot as a player.
“Playing as a centre-back, he [De Jong] can give us a lot, he can adapt to that position. We want it that the centre-back distributes the ball and he does that very well.”
