BARCELONA are now the odds on favourites to keep hold of Frenkie de Jong for next season.
The Spanish side have been priced at 4/6 to hold onto the central midfielder, who had previously looked almost certain to sign for Manchester United this summer.
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The Dutch central midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough season with Ajax in the 2018-19 season as a 21-year-old, when Erik ten Hag's team won the league and cup double, as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the club's first time in 22 years.
The 25-year-old signed for Barcelona later that summer for £78m, and has been a key member of the side, racking up 138 appearances in less than three years at the club.
It had seemed incredibly likely that de Jong would be reuniting with ten Hag at Manchester United next season.
However, it was rumoured that de Jong was happy at Barcelona and didn't want to leave, but the club's financial situation, as well the desire to spend big this summer, meant that the Catalan side were willing to sell the midfielder.
Barcelona will be playing Champions League football next season, whereas Manchester United are in the Europa League, which may well have been a key component of the midfielder's thought process.
Frenkie de Jong next club odds
Sky Bet odds
- To stay at Barcelona – 4/6
- Manchester United – 6/5
- Chelsea – 16/1
- Manchester City – 40/1
- Arsenal – 50/1
- Liverpool – 50/1
- PSG – 50/1
- Bayern Munich – 66/1
- Juventus – 66/1
- Newcastle – 66/1
- Tottenham – 66/1
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Man United are still priced at 6/5 to sign the midfielder so despite the odds being lengthened, they are still very short.
Central midfield in particular for United is a position they need to strengthen in, with Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic having both joined Serie A this window.
It leaves just Scott McTominay, Fred and another former Ajax man in Donny van de Beek as United's senior central midfielders – meaning the signing of de Jong would be a huge upgrade.
Chelsea are deemed to be the next most likely club to attempt to sign de Jong, with Sky Bet pricing the move at 16/1.
The Blues' central midfield duo of Jorginho and N'Golo Kante both have contracts that expire at the end of next season, so could be on the lookout for a new midfielder.
It leaves just Mateo Kovacic as the only proven first team player with longer than 12 months on their deal, with Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Billy Gilmour the only other first team central midfielders at the club.
Manchester City were once touted as favourites to sign de Jong but have since signed Kalvin Phillips from Leeds so are now 40/1.
Arsenal and Liverpool are priced at 50/1 along with PSG, while Bayern Munich, Juventus, Newcastle and Tottenham are all 66/1.
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