Frenkie de Jong has revealed that he never planned on leaving Barcelona in the summer. The 25-year-old midfielder was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League as the Spanish giants looked to resolve their financial troubles.
football.london understand that Chelsea have liked the idea of signing De Jong for a few years now and, despite having once been confident of landing his signature, a move away from the Camp Nou failed to materialise. It's said that the Blues were in talks with the Netherlands international over a potential move to Stamford Bridge, with former boss Thomas Tuchel eager to bolster his midfield with more creativity.
A key factor which fuelled talk that De Jong, who sees his contract at Barcelona expire in 2026, would leave was the dispute in wages between player and club. According to The Telegraph, as of July, the Spanish giants owed him £17million in deferred wages from the pandemic.
