Express
Frenkie de Jong’s agents reportedly have bad news for Chelsea as they remain clear on the Dutchman’s desire to stay at Barcelona. The development comes after more crucial transfer talks in which Barca president Joan Laporta tried to introduce super-agent Pini Zahvi into proceedings before being shut down by De Jong’s camp.
The long-running transfer saga for De Jong is now reaching key stages as Manchester United and Chelsea wait for a conclusive outcome. Both Premier League sides are heavily linked to the 25-year-old, who is believed to be Barca’s highest earner.
That presents a problem for Laporta as La Blaugrana are currently unable to register their new signings due to a lack of space on the wage bill. Xavi is due to take charge of the club’s first game of the La Liga season on Saturday evening, but may have to do so without a host of stars.
Barca are pushing for De Jong to accept a reduced wage, as has been done already by the likes of Gerard Pique and Ousmane Dembele, while Chelsea are positioning themselves to strike.
According to ESPN, De Jong’s camp remain ‘clear’ that there is no intention to leave Barcelona. The Dutchman branded it a ‘childhood dream’ to play at the Camp Nou amid interest from United earlier this summer, but fans hurled abuse at him on Wednesday when he arrived for training.
A waiting group shouted in Spanish: “Lower your salary, b****,” with talks ongoing behind the scenes. Laporta, who has publicly maintained that the club would like De Jong to stay, albeit on reduced terms, reportedly tried to introduce Zahavi into negotiations with Chelsea…
