Sources: Chelsea set sights on 'complicated' Frenkie De Jong deal
Chelsea will need at least £50million to tempt Barcelona into selling midfielder Frenkie de Jong in the January window, sources have told Football Insider.
The Blues have set their sights on the 29-year-old as they continue their bid to find a replacement for Enzo Fernandez after his summer exit.
The Dutch international is currently out injured, but is nearing a return to fitness and could be in line for his first minutes of the season in the coming weeks.
However, sources say that De Jong's injury return will make it "complicated" for Chelsea to strike a deal for him, as Barcelona have been eagerly awaiting his return.
The former Ajax starlet is now into his eighth full campaign with the La Liga giants, and helped them to yet another league title last term, his third in their colours.
He is firmly on the radar as one of Chelsea's top options for midfield reinforcements, but a deal will not be straightforward for them.
Frenkie de Jong's contract situation
De Jong has become a staple of the Barcelona midfield since his move from Ajax, and is now one of the longest-serving players in their current squad.
However, they have been keen to continue to shore up his long-term future, and the veteran remains under contract until the summer of 2029 at the moment.
The Blaugrana are under no pressure to sell De Jong as a result, even with his latest injury issue.
He now has over 60 appearances to his name in the Champions League, and will be needed for Barcelona as they battle for trophies on all fronts as the campaign progresses.
Their £50m valuation is a clear starting point for any potential deal for Chelsea, but the Premier League giants would likely need to go beyond that in order to truly tempt a sale.
Xabi Alonso's side have also considered a move for Lamine Camara as part of their attempts to replace Fernandez, but De Jong is now the latest man on their radar.
Chelsea 'very angry' over Lamine Camara situation
Football Insider revealed back in September that Chelsea are "very angry" at Monaco for the way that they pulled the plug on their deal for Camara in the summer.
The Blues had agreed a deal worth £47m for the youngster, only for their counterparts to back out on transfer deadline day.
Chelsea believe that Monaco acted in an "unprofessional manner" during the saga, and sources say that the relationship between the two clubs must be repaired before they conduct any more business together.
With that in mind, the prospect of the Blues going back in for Camara appears unlikely at this stage, unless they have a dramatic change of heart ahead of January.