Let's not forget they didn't even "officially" make an offer before they sowed the thoughts of playing for them in his head. 

They unsettled our player whether he is 4th or 3rd choice and if they are gonna try and bleed us £30m for Auba who they got on a free, and basically actually taking him will be doing them a huge favour as regards meeting their own financial obligations, we would be fools and biggest losers to not make life as difficult for them as possible. 

We can just bend over and tell them to have a go, no vaseline. 

Ben Jacobs update:

Barcelona expected to start Frenkie de Jong against Real Sociedad on Sunday. He remains Chelsea's midfield priority. Not true Thomas Tuchel cooled interest last week. #CFC & #MUFC waiting to see if a move is possible. FDJ still clear he wants to stay on current terms.
 

In a meeting last week, it was reiterated (pretty bullishly) to Barcelona that FDJ won't take a pay cut. Told it was also added that any further discussion must come after his deferred wages are paid.

A lot still depends on Barcelona's likelihood of signing Bernardo Silva. #MCFC will hold out for a big fee. £45-50m Barca are briefing is way off. Silva wants the move but won't force an exit. Barcelona are going to have to find funds hence why FDJ fee could yet prove important.
 

As previously reported, the key to an FDJ exit is in Barca 'forcing' him out. He has never been told to his face by Barca that they want him to leave. Xavi is also unsure letting him go is a good idea.

1 minute ago, JM7 said:

Ben Jacobs update:

Barcelona expected to start Frenkie de Jong against Real Sociedad on Sunday. He remains Chelsea's midfield priority. Not true Thomas Tuchel cooled interest last week. #CFC & #MUFC waiting to see if a move is possible. FDJ still clear he wants to stay on current terms.
 

In a meeting last week, it was reiterated (pretty bullishly) to Barcelona that FDJ won't take a pay cut. Told it was also added that any further discussion must come after his deferred wages are paid.

A lot still depends on Barcelona's likelihood of signing Bernardo Silva. #MCFC will hold out for a big fee. £45-50m Barca are briefing is way off. Silva wants the move but won't force an exit. Barcelona are going to have to find funds hence why FDJ fee could yet prove important.
 

As previously reported, the key to an FDJ exit is in Barca 'forcing' him out. He has never been told to his face by Barca that they want him to leave. Xavi is also unsure letting him go is a good idea.

Don't do this to @Gol15 Mr. JM7OBS, don't build up his hopes again...

The most tedious saga this window.  

Might be tedious and you could easily say we need a striker and defender more than a midfielder but de Jong is a class footballer with his best in front of him. He would improve us heaps. 

On 15/08/2022 at 21:36, abister1 said:

Nah we should tell them to F off. He has a contract and can more than, even as 3rd or 4th choice, come up with the goals you are so quick to remind us all your favorite player to deride comes up short with. 

And there are more teams than just Barca. 

If he really wants to leave (which I would fully understand from his point of view), then he needs to speak to his agent to find a club that pays the requested minimum fee. 

Edited August 17, 20223 yr by Night-T

Kounde is still not registered and according to espn busquets and pique have jacked up on further pay cuts or deferments so even after Depay goes they may still needs to do more Re de Jong or Auba. 
 

it ain’t over yet as dear old Janis used to sing. 

1 hour ago, ozboy said:

Kounde is still not registered and according to espn busquets and pique have jacked up on further pay cuts or deferments so even after Depay goes they may still needs to do more Re de Jong or Auba. 
 

it ain’t over yet as dear old Janis used to sing. 

It looks like it's over, almost as if Barcelona gets enough money to register everyone that is missing one by one as every day passes by or something. Though I hope we still have this unique chance...

Don't see anything on this any more. Not that it ever was on, but i will be staggered if this ever gets near. 

Personally don't think we will get any of TT main 4 targets.

Auba, United more likely as they will offer a big contract.

De Jong, stay at Barca.

Gordon, Everton won't sell.

Fofana, Leicester won't sell.

35 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Personally don't think we will get any of TT main 4 targets.

Auba, United more likely as they will offer a big contract.

De Jong, stay at Barca.

Gordon, Everton won't sell.

Fofana, Leicester won't sell.

I am actually not sure that TT is much of a draw to some of these players. If media reports are to believed didn't he make personal calls to Raphinha and to De Ligt who then promptly signed for other clubs

9 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

I am actually not sure that TT is much of a draw to some of these players. If media reports are to believed didn't he make personal calls to Raphinha and to De Ligt who then promptly signed for other clubs

What I expect is that he is too honest. Barcelona really suck up to these players (before they want to force them out a year later)

1 hour ago, WhiteWall said:

I am actually not sure that TT is much of a draw to some of these players. If media reports are to believed didn't he make personal calls to Raphinha and to De Ligt who then promptly signed for other clubs

By 'other clubs' you mean Bayern and Barcelona...

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Personally don't think we will get any of TT main 4 targets.

Auba, United more likely as they will offer a big contract.

De Jong, stay at Barca.

Gordon, Everton won't sell.

Fofana, Leicester won't sell.

Mate no one’s going to United

7 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

Mate no one’s going to United

You never know, they got that Martinez fella 😉

I am not as pessimistic as axman but he could well be right. Personally I think we have a good chance of Auba a fair chance of fofana and a slim chance at de jong. As for gordon I have no idea at all.  Its very very hard to work out what is actually happening from the few strands of fact in all the bs. But it is fun compared to the day job.

I think the players are interested because we can pay up, we are in the champions league and touchel if unexciting gets results so there is the chance of silverware. Its a new project that is gaining lustre. 

We have a harder task to win Premier League than barca to win la liga  but a fair argument its more prestigious here. I would back us to go further than barca in the champions league. 

No-one is going to Man U just now that wants any kind of future. Its a stain on your career.

Edited August 17, 20223 yr by ozboy

2 minutes ago, ozboy said:

I am not as pessimistic as axman 

As it should be, people on here expect me to be the most pessimistic, right @RMH😉

3 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Personally I think we have a good chance of Auba a fair chance of fofana and a slim chance at de jong. As for gordon I have no idea at all.  Its very very hard to work out what is actually happening from the few strands of fact in all the bs. But it is fun compared to the day job.

I base it on what has commonly been reported in 3 of those cases, and a gut feeling on the other.

Gut feeling - Auba is a mercenary, he was paid a huge amount at Arsenal, so much so they let him go for FREE to save on his wages. He is also paid very well at Barca and we know United, if they want someone, will pay stupid money to make it happen. (What is Ronaldo on, 500k a week?)

Commonly reported -

Gordon - Everton turned down offers from Newcastle and Spurs as their position has, this summer, said he is not for sale, not that the offers fell below their valuation.

Fofana - see Gordon only without rivals bidders. Leicester position has always maintained he is not for sale.

De Jong - his position has been clear throughout, Barca are his dream club and he wants to stay. He will likely be going through a legal battle for his lost wages for a while but that has not affected his desire to stay. Think Barca would happily sell if they could but he won't go.

7 hours ago, axman2526 said:

 

De Jong - his position has been clear throughout, Barca are his dream club and he wants to stay. He will likely be going through a legal battle for his lost wages for a while but that has not affected his desire to stay. Think Barca would happily sell if they could but he won't go.

That's the point, if Barcelona were a normal club he would have been sold but these relationships and money schemes are no short from a soap opera... "Mi Xavi doesn't want me but I can't live outside of Mas Que un clubo, they yell at me but I still love them..."

14 hours ago, axman2526 said:

As it should be, people on here expect me to be the most pessimistic, right @RMH😉

I base it on what has commonly been reported in 3 of those cases, and a gut feeling on the other.

Gut feeling - Auba is a mercenary, he was paid a huge amount at Arsenal, so much so they let him go for FREE to save on his wages. He is also paid very well at Barca and we know United, if they want someone, will pay stupid money to make it happen. (What is Ronaldo on, 500k a week?)

Commonly reported -

Gordon - Everton turned down offers from Newcastle and Spurs as their position has, this summer, said he is not for sale, not that the offers fell below their valuation.

Fofana - see Gordon only without rivals bidders. Leicester position has always maintained he is not for sale.

De Jong - his position has been clear throughout, Barca are his dream club and he wants to stay. He will likely be going through a legal battle for his lost wages for a while but that has not affected his desire to stay. Think Barca would happily sell if they could but he won't go.

I hate the term mercenary...people have different backgrounds. Why on earth would Pierre Emerick Aubameyang from Gabon have a club like Arsenal, Barcelona or Dortmund be so close to his heart he wouldn't change go to anywhere else? If it was I would question his sanity. 

In Barcelona, they are aware that Frenkie De Jong’s representatives have been negotiating with United in recent days and, from the Netherlands, it is also confirmed there is a serious possibility he can end up accepting United’s offer in the last days of the market (Diario SPORT)

Barcelona wants to setup conditions to try and reach an agreement with De Jong’s environment for the long term. If this is not possible, the club will try to open the option of a transfer with Chelsea and Manchester United both on the lookout for what will happen. (Diario SPORT)

Sigh..this one is still rumbling on. 

Edited August 25, 20223 yr by JM7

Liverpool apparently sniffing around now.

46 minutes ago, JM7 said:

In Barcelona, they are aware that Frenkie De Jong’s representatives have been negotiating with United in recent days and, from the Netherlands, it is also confirmed there is a serious possibility he can end up accepting United’s offer in the last days of the market (Diario SPORT)

Barcelona wants to setup conditions to try and reach an agreement with De Jong’s environment for the long term. If this is not possible, the club will try to open the option of a transfer with Chelsea and Manchester United both on the lookout for what will happen. (Diario SPORT)

Sigh..this one is still rumbling on. 

Till the end of the window.

Incidentally this will be what @Gol15 head looks like of he joins United:

 

 

To be fair a midfield of Casemiro and De Jong and United may well finish ahead of us.

32 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

 

To be fair a midfield of Casemiro and De Jong and United may well finish ahead of us.

That is on par with Rodri and KDB personally. 

Whatever we do, this guy should be our priority signing now together with another defender. Not necessarily Fofana. Infact with what FDJ would cost, we are better off buying only him and getting a cheaper option as CB instead of Fofana. We can still survive until January with Ampadu and Chalobah as back ups but certainly can't survive in any competition with  the midfield that we currently have