Chelsea have been told to refocus their efforts on signing Casemiro or Rodri as Todd Boehly closes in on a deal for Frenkie de Jong. The Barcelona star has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this summer and, while the Blues seem best positioned to sign the midfielder, Thomas Tuchel has been encouraged to set his sights on an alternative deal.
football.london understands that the west Londoners have liked the idea of signing the Netherlands international for a few years now. And, while the German faces great competition from Erik ten Hag for the 25-year-old's signature, Tuchel is confident of beating Manchester United to a deal.
It's said that Chelsea have entered talks with De Jong as the Blues boss looks to arm his side with more creativity in midfield. However, there is currently no agreement in place, leaving scope for Tuchel to acknowledge his latest transfer advice.
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Speaking to Genting Casino, William Gallas spoke on Chelsea's state of play in the summer window and explained why the club shouldn't entertain a deal for De Jong - despite the Dutchman's ability.
"De Jong is a great player," the former Chelsea defender said. "He is still young but he is so experienced in the way he plays. I don’t think Chelsea should have gone for someone of that profile though. They already have players like him.
"They should go for someone like Casemiro or Rodri instead," Gallas added. "They are strong guys who stay in front of their defenders. They have good impacts physically as well. That is why I would not sign De Jong, because they already have players who are a little bit similar."
With a move away from the Camp Nou on the cards, De Jong has told team-mates in the dressing room that he’d rather pen a deal at Stamford Bridge than Old Trafford, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. The £88.8million-rated midfielder, who sees his contract at Barcelona expire in 2026, is said to earn close to £360,000-a-week making him one of the best-paid players.
But, the Spanish giants owe him £17million in deferred wages from the pandemic, according to The Telegraph. It seems that there's a hill to climb before a deal can be reached for De Jong - so maybe Gallas is on to something...
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