Chelsea have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong after his agents have made an admission on his future.
The 25-year-old’s future is unclear, with Barcelona yet to register their new signings due to their current financial situation.
It was recently reported that Chelsea are close to agreeing a fee with Xavi’s side for De Jong just days after an admission from Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who stated that he wanted to keep the Dutch international this summer.
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“Frenkie’s our player and we want him to stay at Barcelona, he wants to stay too,” Laporta said.
“With him and his teammates, we have a very powerful midfield.
“He has offers, but we want him to stay.”
However, with Barcelona struggling to register their new signings ahead of the La Liga season opener on Saturday, the Dutch international could still depart.
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With Chelsea hoping to agree a fee with Barcelona, De Jong will get the final say on any decision regarding his future.
Chelsea have been dealt a blow in this respect, with the latest reports stating that the midfielder wishes to remain a Barcelona player.
As reported by Samuel Marsden, De Jong’s agents have made it clear that they still do not intend to leave the club this summer.
Furthermore, the player’s representatives have told both Barcelona and Chelsea to not use intermediaries in talks.
Laporta allegedly tried to involve super agent Pini Zahavi in the negotiations, but the feeling is that doing this will hinder things this summer.
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It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will continue in negotiations for the midfielder or decide to prioritise other positions towards the end of the transfer window.
Wesley Fofana of Leicester City has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea set to go in with a third bid to test the Foxes’ resolve this summer.
Furthermore, Chelsea have identified Barcelona forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a target this summer, looking to replace both Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner after their departures.
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The deal could be complicated, with Memphis Depay also set to leave the Camp Nou, leaving Barcelona with a lack of central options in attack.
It is unclear as to whether the Blues will be able to add to Thomas Tuchel’s squad by the end of the transfer window, with the Premier League already underway as they look to challenge at the top once more.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Frenkie De Jong, Football, Barcelona, Transfers