Chelsea to lure Frenkie de Jong ahead of January with 'hefty' offer
Chelsea are prepared to hand a "hefty" contract to Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong if they can sign him in January, sources have told Football Insider.
The Blues have identified the Dutch international as a target to replace Enzo Fernandez, and are lining up a move for him in the winter window.
Xabi Alonso's side are hoping to land a big name with vast experience in the middle of the park, and the 29-year-old fits the bill for them.
Sources say that Chelsea are ready to try and tempt De Jong with a lucrative contract, given that he is already on a substantial wage at Barcelona.
However, it is expected to be "difficult" for them to strike a deal, as the Blaugrana are not actively looking to sell the ex-Ajax star right now.
De Jong made 46 appearances for Barcelona last season, but he has been sidelined with an injury of late and is yet to play in 2026-27.
How much would Chelsea need to pay for Frenkie de Jong?
Chelsea made a big decision to allow Fernandez to leave in the latter stages of the summer transfer window, and they ultimately ran out of time to replace him.
As a result, the addition of a new centre-midfielder has become a top priority for them moving forward, with De Jong among the options on their radar.
Football Insider revealed on Monday that it would take an offer of at least the £50million mark to tempt Barcelona into a sale.
Hansi Flick still sees a role for the veteran when he returns from injury, and Chelsea will have to make it truly worthwhile for Barcelona to sell.
De Jong is seen as a key part of their push to win the Champions League, after an injury limited him to just nine minutes in their quarter-final defeat to Atletico Madrid last term.
The player's importance to Barcelona is set to make it difficult for Chelsea to sign him, and the only way to get around that will be to splash a lot of cash on both the transfer fee and his personal terms.
Chelsea could land Alex Scott at '£20m' reduction
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider last week that Chelsea could potentially sign Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott at a "£20m" reduction next summer.
The Blues had been heavily linked with a move to sign the England international in January, but a recent quadricep injury has put paid to that for now.
Scott faces around three months on the sidelines, and Wyness believes that his price tag could face a £20m variance depending on how well he plays when he returns.
If Scott struggles to find form again in the second half of the season, then it could play into Chelsea's hands for a cheaper deal next summer.