Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong was one of the most talked-about players of the summer transfer window, having been heavily linked with Premier League duo Chelsea and Manchester United.
However, having reintegrated himself back into Xavi’s side since the start of the 2022/23 season, the 25-year-old insists that “nothing has changed” between him and his team-mates.
What’s the word?
That is according to esteemed journalist Fabrizio Romano, who took to Twitter on Thursday morning to relay the Netherlands international’s quotes addressing his summer links to the aforementioned English clubs.
De Jong stated: “For me it was clear, I wanted to stay at Barcelona. There’s no problem – between me and my teammates nothing has changed.
“Chelsea and United links? A lot has happened and things were a little troubled, but my own decision was clear from the start.”
Potter would’ve loved to have him
Quite simply, Chelsea manager Graham Potter must have loved to have had the “midfield maestro”, as dubbed by Sky Sports-featured analyst Statman Dave, at his disposal.
With an average of 2.92 shot-creating actions, 5.81 passes into the final third and 5.44 progressive passes per 90, the Blues’ midfield would surely benefit from the inclusion of such a progressive and astute player who would no doubt help them to create more clear-cut chances in front of goal.
It’s something with which they’ve struggled this season, having scored just eight goals and created eight big chances. The latter return is the joint-seventh lowest across the Premier League.
Last season, De Jong created 43 chances in La Liga, whilst Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic created 54 chances between them in the Premier League, which is demonstrative of the 25-year-old’s threat as an individual.
Having featured six times for Xavi’s side in La Liga so far this term, the £164k-per-week midfielder has already created six chances at a rate of 1.5 per 90 minutes.
It once again betters the five chances that Jorginho and Kovacic have created between them this season and may remind the Chelsea faithful of a summer move that Potter would have adored.
