'A mistake' - Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd impacted by Fabrizio Romano £65m transfer update

Chelsea and Arsenal have been sent a message by Barcelona over links of a summer transfer move for midfielder Frenkie De Jong. The Dutch international has also been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.

De Jong has been at the Catalan giants since 2019, racking up over 200 appearances since joining from Ajax. The 26-year-old has become one of the continent's most respected defensive midfielders and is said to be admired by a number of Premier League clubs.

Both Arsenal and Chelsea had been linked with a move for the player last summer, although those rumours cooled during the January transfer window, likely due to the price tag placed on the player. Barcelona paid £65 million for his services five years ago and he is now at the peak of his powers - although financial worries at the La Liga club sparked belief that a lower fee could be agreed on.

De Jong had been touted as the perfect option to beef up Arsenal's midfield while Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with the player for years. In 2022, Barcelona spoke of having received a €100 million bid for the player but did not accept.

The Gunners, Blues and Red Devils have all invested considerably in their midfield in recent years but as De Jong edges closer to his contract expiry in 2026, the transfer links refuse to disappear, even if Barcelona do not want to lose their star.

Quoted by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano today, Barcelona director Deco warned against letting De Jong leave but appeared to suggest an exit as possible. He said: "We’d like not to sell any top player in the summer. It’d be a mistake to sell Araujo and Frenkie de Jong. I’d like to improve the squad... not to sell players”.

Last year, the player himself also reaffirmed his commitment to life in Catalunya and told TV3 he hoped to be with Barcelona 'for many years'. De Jong said: "Hopefully I can play in the new Camp Nou. Barcelona has always been the club of my dreams and I want to stay here for many years. For me, the Camp Nou is the most beautiful stadium in the world. "The plans for the stadium are very good. To continue here for many years. Barca is the team of my dreams. Playing in a Clasico is a very difficult feeling to explain.

"When I was a child, I dreamed of doing it with Barca and now I can do it. It's a very important game for the fans and also for the players, a game that can decide a league."