Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

[TDK]

If he goes to Chelsea after all of this it would be borderline hilarious. I want him here but if he really is going to make decisions based on who is in the CL this season then he is probably not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Chelsea are showing ambition this summer but lets be frank, they are spending an obscene amount of money to buy the love of the supporters this window but with their revenues this is simply not sustainable and I would expect some very austere times ahead.

It wouldn't be borderline hilarious, it would be a fully paid up package of hilariousness that's never been seen on Mother Earth.

United fans have spent 1k+ pages drooling over FDJ. They've built him up to be Beckenbauer, Gullit, Keane, Robson, Zidane and Scholes rolled into one.

When he joins Chelsea he'll suddenly be labelled the new incarnation of Tom Cleverely by these same people.

Building up players from other clubs, like they're football gods, is... interesting... especially when they eventually don't join.

 

[Mainoldo]

Chelsea are heavily linked and his agents are sitting down with Barce today to sort everything out.

Not a coincidence me thinks.

I’m mythed. What do you mean in black and white m

 

[Golden Nugget]

Chelsea’s playing it smart here - going for De Jong means Barcelona can’t hijack another one of their signings…. Unless he signs a new contract which would be funny

 

[Lee565]

People seem to point out that we wouldn't chase a player for 2 months unless we got positive signs from the player but this would not be the first time this has happened during a transfer window and the player went elsewhere or stayed at their club.

 

[DeGea’sFeet]

If we don’t get him blame has to lay with ETH for that one. Esp if there’s no suitable plan b and we play the season with McFred

 

[Chief123]

I still don't understand what Chelsea are offering to make them favorites.

Maybe enough wages to offset his current contract issue with Barca?

But if you flip the question to what are Man Utd offering to make us favourites? Right now, nothing other than the fact he had a relationship with ETH. Everything else we have to offer can be offered by Chelsea plus more such as CL football, location and being the closest challengers to the title outside of the top 2.

 

[Plant0x84]

Frenkie: de Beslissing

google translate La Decision in Dutch

Been their don’t that a few hundred pages ago…… but I can’t find the post

 

[Strootman's Finger]

People seem to point out that we wouldn't chase a player for 2 months unless we got positive signs from the player but this would not be the first time this has happened during a transfer window and the player went elsewhere or stayed at their club.

But have those situations had the personal relationship that Ten Hag and Frenkie have?

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

Possibly...

Has there been any other reports at all from anyone else? Or even about a bid being made? Didn't the report say they were in negotiations but confident about a reaching an agreement?

Ornstein said there were talks with Barca now on and confidence of agreeing a fee/deal. Our journos have been out of the loop a lot this window which surprises me... so that may explain why they haven't caught up with Ornstein's news.

Other than some journos confirming we want him, the only other to confirm talks are happening is Miguel Delaney, but he's not someone id consider very reliable

 

[Brownie85]

But if you flip the question to what are Man Utd offering to make us favourites? Right now, nothing other than the fact he had a relationship with ETH. Everything else we have to offer can be offered by Chelsea plus more such as CL football, location and being the closest challengers to the title outside of the top 2.

The only thing United could guarantee is playing time and money. He'd have pretty much no competition in his place and he'd always play, regardless. Yes theres no CL this season, but thats not a guaranteed to be the same next season.

ten Hag needs to sell his vision and project and make sure that he puts across just how important de Jong will be to that. I imagine at Chelsea, even though he'll obviously play, he'll be another player in a swamp of good midfielders

 

[Chief123]

Chelsea’s playing it smart here - going for De Jong means Barcelona can’t hijack another one of their signings…. Unless he signs a new contract which would be funny

I mean Barca could play an absolute blinder here. They’ve abused chelsea all summer and could end up with:

Stole Raphina from them.
Stole Kounde from them.
Take Alonso off them
Take Azpi off them
Offload an expensive FDJ to them

And in return get Chelsea to pay some money on top to pay for their new luxuries. Incredible.

 

[Brownie85]

Ornstein said there were talks with Barca now on and confidence of agreeing a fee/deal. Our journos have been out of the loop a lot this window which surprises me... so that may explain why they haven't caught up with Ornstein's news.

Other than some journos confirming we want him, the only other to confirm talks are happening is Miguel Delaney, but he's not someone id consider very reliable

I just find it so incredibly odd how even guys like Romero and Romano haven't even mentioned it yet (unless they have and i've missed it). You really would have thought that they'd be on it too. It's just strange.

If the Chelsea journos are out of the loop on it, then the info has definitely come from Spain/Barca's side i'd imagine.

 

[Chief123]

The only thing United could guarantee is playing time and money. He'd have pretty much no competition in his place and he'd always play, regardless. Yes theres no CL this season, but thats not a guaranteed to be the same next season.

ten Hag needs to sell his vision and project and make sure that he puts across just how important de Jong will be to that. I imagine at Chelsea, even though he'll obviously play, he'll be another player in a swamp of good midfielders

That’s what I mean. I think chelsea would guarantee him playing time and money as well. He’d be first choice midfielder for them. He’s younger more agile and mobile than Jorginho who will be gone next summer. If anything Jorginho will get benched.

 

[Plant0x84]

I don’t have those anymore which I promise has nothing to do with this follow up post

 

[Flexdegea]

Playing in the champions league and fighting for the premier league and maybe paying the wages he wants.

They not be fighting in either this season.

They have massive holes in the squad after that summer

 

[spaceboyRSA]

Wow. Culture. Never thought I’d see that on the Caf! We’ll played!

I is a well read dude

 

[OrcaFat]

It would make even less sense for the club to maintain their optimism if they knew there was no chance of him coming. That would REALLY make us look stupid.
For them to keep putting out this info, they must have some pretty solid assurances... or ten Hag truly is an incompetent fool. I might be optimistic, but i know what i believe. Based on Timber/Brobbey, i'd say we'd move on if we were told that we didn't stand a chance.

Well yes, I don’t disagree but it could be an elaborate ruse to get Chelsea to overpay for him. I don’t know if that kind of crap goes on. I’m just fabricating unsubstantiated scenarios. I’ve been through these sagas before and rational thought goes out the window eventually.

 

[Strootman's Finger]

But if you flip the question to what are Man Utd offering to make us favourites? Right now, nothing other than the fact he had a relationship with ETH. Everything else we have to offer can be offered by Chelsea plus more such as CL football, location and being the closest challengers to the title outside of the top 2.

People are overestimating Chelsea. They didn't finish close to Liverpool and City, they barely finished above Tottenham and Arsenal. Had any one of Tottenham, Arsenal or United got their shit together they could have easily finished above Chelsea. To me they are the most obvious to drop out of the top four if we get good enough to sneak in. Conte, after steadying the ship, bringing in his own signings, is going to have Tottenham a solid team. It's chelsea, bloody chelsea, it shouldn't be a competition for a player choosing between one of the biggest clubs in the world and the club that's beginning their decent back into midtable obscurity.

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

I just find it so incredibly odd how even guys like Romero and Romano haven't even mentioned it yet (unless they have and i've missed it). You really would have thought that they'd be on it too. It's just strange.

If the Chelsea journos are out of the loop on it, then the info has definitely come from Spain/Barca's side i'd imagine.

Most likely, although Ornstein usually has good sources so i dont know who he has the info from. Fabrizio Romano has reported we want him, but would only bid when there was a likelihood he'd leave to join.

 

[Brownie85]

Well yes, I don’t disagree but it could be an elaborate ruse to get Chelsea to overpay for him. I don’t know if that kind of crap goes on. I’m just fabricating unsubstantiated scenarios. I’ve been through these sagas before and rational thought goes out the window eventually.

So you believe we've pulled out and are saying that we're still staying put in order to get Chelsea to overpay for a great player whilst we sign no one? Or even Neves? Not sure how that works to be honest with you

 

[Red the Bear]

I don't know, haven't Chelsea spend a lot already?
I would have been scared had the news come out at the start but now it doesn't really make much sense.

 

[Real Name]

This one is in the bag.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Harsh on @Berbaclass

 

[mu4c_20le]

- Chelsea interest is credible
- United still confident FDJ is interested in coming
- Ten hag has spoken to Frenkie over the phone
- While United are prepared to go all the way to deadline day, Barca expected this to be done by now

 

[Cypriot]

This is really starting to give me Tia Maria vibes.

 

[Brownie85]

Most likely, although Ornstein usually has good sources so i dont know who he has the info from. Fabrizio Romano has reported we want him, but would only bid when there was a likelihood he'd leave to join.

I completely agree he has good sources, but it's not outside the realms of possibility that his sources have dealt him dodgy info which he's reported on. Thats being extremely overly optimistic i know, but it's possible.
The only thing that gets me is that it's a big story, but no one else has confirmed it, or barely acknowledged it. You'd think even some of Uniteds reporters would have confirmed it too, seeing as United themselves would surely know, instead it just seems that we've briefed through Dawson that we're still confident. It's just so incredibly confusing

 

[Plant0x84]

I is a well read dude

Going from 2 girls 1 cup to WH Auden is quite a turn around!

 

[House Mkhitaryan]

If FDJ ends up moving to Chelsea this window, it will show that those in charge of United's transfer dealings still have absolutely no clue what they are doing. For me, all of the optimism that came with appointing ten Hag will be gone.

 

[Random Task]

Okay, for reals now people, what's it gonna take to get this guy signed and ready for the new season?

We're open to any and all suggestions at this point in the saga. Well, anything short of "cancelling" the guy as that's clearly a step too far.

I'm asking for a friend obviously.

 

[Plant0x84]

This is really starting to give me Tia Maria vibes.

It’s giving me Tia and Tamara vibes.

 

[Strootman's Finger]

If we lose out on DeJong that removes any optimism and goodwill generated by the EtH appointment. It just overshadows it all, and makes our club an embarassment. We can't let this happen.

 

[Teja]

But if you flip the question to what are Man Utd offering to make us favourites? Right now, nothing other than the fact he had a relationship with ETH. Everything else we have to offer can be offered by Chelsea plus more such as CL football, location and being the closest challengers to the title outside of the top 2.

You have to assume he said yes to us at some point or we'd not be waiting this long.

If it's a no to us and yes to Chelsea, I assume we'll walk. However, even today with the Chelsea interest, the leaks from the club are that we are still confident in signing FdJ. So safe to say there hasn't been any change in FdJ's stance.

Also by that logic, no player would ever chose United over Chelsea and I don't think that's a fair statement.

 

[Plant0x84]

- Chelsea interest is credible
- United still confident FDJ is interested in coming
- Ten hag has spoken to Frenkie over the phone
- While United are prepared to go all the way to deadline day, Barca expected this to be done by now

I’m so lost. Why can’t we finish the deal? What’s giving chelsea hope they can? We’ve assumed all along it was them and the wage issue, but this throws that into question. Unless Barca just expected us to throw cash at them to make the problem go away?!

 

[Cypriot]

I've got it on good authority that FDJ used to sleep in Djemba-Djemba pyjamas growing up...

 

[joedirt87]

will be bizarre if at the end all it came down to was one of the two clubs paying the deferred wages.

 

[Brownie85]

I’m so lost. Why can’t we finish the deal? What’s giving chelsea hope they can? We’ve assumed all along it was them and the wage issue, but this throws that into question.

I think Barca were expecting us to cover de Jongs wages, and with Chelsea getting involved, i bet we're going to be stupid enough to do it now

 

[fps]

I’m so lost. Why can’t we finish the deal? What’s giving chelsea hope they can? We’ve assumed all along it was them and the wage issue, but this throws that into question. Unless Barca just expected us to throw cash at them to make the problem go away?!

Are they waiting for a bribe or something?

 

[OrcaFat]

So you believe we've pulled out and are saying that we're still staying put in order to get Chelsea to overpay for a great player whilst we sign no one? Or even Neves? Not sure how that works to be honest with you

No. I mean, yes, I am saying that but only a tiny piece of me (the insane piece) thinks it could be true.

The wider point is that there is so little actual information around this rumour and what there is could easily be false, why would we be the only ones playing it straight? Maybe we are. If so does that put us at a disadvantage?

I just want to know what the feck is going on. Still hope we sign him.

 

[Judas]

If we lose out on DeJong that removes any optimism and goodwill generated by the EtH appointment. It just overshadows it all, and makes our club an embarassment. We can't let this happen.

Bit strong. It'll be baffling and massively disappointing. But this reaction seems a little bit over the top.

 

[Judas]

I think Barca were expecting us to cover de Jongs wages, and with Chelsea getting involved, i bet we're going to be stupid enough to do it now

Couldn't give less of a shit if we do really, I just want want want him.