The two reasons De Jong could prefer Chelsea to Manchester United

On Saturday, Barcelona president Joan Laporta turned the situation surrounding Frenkie de Jong's future upside down. Just when there was the most noise about the midfielder leaving, Laporta said he will do all he can to keep him at the club.

The president's comments came as surprise because it had been given De Jong would leave due to the club's financial situation. That was especially true in England, where continued reports link the Dutch international with an Old Trafford switch.

However, it's not just United. The Guardian report that Chelsea are also in the race. And, per the report, they have two cards that United do not have.

The first factor is the possibility to play Champions League football. For De Jong, it is key to be involved in Europe's top competition, something that United cannot offer.

But there is more: one of the other players Chelsea are trying to sign is Matthijs de Ligt. The Juve defender is one of his best friends in the world of football and De Jong would love to be reunited with his former Ajax teammate.

The two were key players in Ajax's run to the Champions League semifinal in 2019, when they were just minutes away from the final, losing to Tottenham late on.

De Jong and De Ligt were two of the players Europe fell in love with, going on to join Barça and Juve that summer. Now Chelsea could unite them again.