Chelsea are now close to agreeing a deal with Barcelona for midfielder Frenkie de Jong, MySportDab reports.
Barca are willing to negotiate with Chelsea despite a previous agreement with Manchester United for the player.
Chelsea are willing to go above the Spanish club’s asking price for the midfielder.
The Dutchman has been in a long transfer saga between Manchester United and Barcelona so far this summer.
EPL Clubs Manchester United and Chelsea are the favourites to sign the player.
However, it appears Chelsea are now ahead of Manchester United in the race for De Jong’s signature.
The Blues are confident of agreeing a deal with the player’s agreement once Barcelona accept the offer.
According to SPORT, Chelsea are ready to offer more than €80million which Barça are asking for the player.
Chelsea have been interested in the midfielder all summer and but don’t plan to enter a bidding war with rivals Manchester United.
MySportDab understands that the 25-year-old was refusing to leave the Camp Nou last week but has now changed his mind.
De Jong remains a key target for Manchester United and the club have already agreed a £63m deal with Barcelona last month.
But he is not convinced about playing for a club without Champions League football.
Since then, Barcelona have done everything possible to convince de Jong to take a salary cut or leave again.
He signed a massive two-year contract under previous Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and is expected to earn €20m (£16.8m) net this season.
He is also expected to earn €25m (£21m) next season with with £17m of deferred wages included.
The Catalan giants are still unwilling to pay De Jong the £17million that he is owed in deferred wages.
Barcelona feel that selling De Jong would solve their current financial constraints.
