Having spent two years playing in west London, where he won the FA Cup and Premier League over a decade ago, it should come as no surprise Barcelona sporting director Deco is venturing back to English shores as he’s been linked with approaches for two Chelsea midfield reinforcements this coming summer – even if head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly content with his existing options.
Lavia, Chukwuemeka named as Barca want additions
ENZO Maresca’s Chelsea side return to club football this weekend after the international break on a seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions (W5, D2) and travel to early title contenders Liverpool aware they’ve only beaten the Reds at Anfield once in league play dating back to November 2014 – 10 H2H meetings.
While they’re steadily building momentum and a sense of cohesion under new management in Cobham, they could well be bracing themselves for some difficult decisions to make this winter given the overload within their squad. La Liga leaders Barcelona are said to be interested in two first-team players struggling for minutes.
Romeo Lavia (ankle, fitness and hamstring) sustained a series of physical issues reducing him to just 32 minutes of first-team football last term after a £53m move from relegated Southampton the season prior, while Carney Chukwuemeka was a £20m acquisition from Aston Villa two seasons ago with injuries a persistent theme.
Lavia is still building back to full fitness after a hamstring complaint two months ago, while the Blues‘ excessive senior squad size means Chukwuemeka has been one of the less publicly discussed casualties that saw Raheem Sterling depart for London rivals Arsenal in a loan deal on deadline day last month.
As per a report by Sport (in Spanish), Deco looked to bolster Barcelona’s midfield options with a physical player capable of easing the defensive-minded load on a team packed with creative-minded alternatives but less geared towards achieving the balance many of their European rivals are trying to juggle.
Chelsea, blessed with enough depth for a full squad rotation in Europa Conference League play, know the feeling all too well with £100m signings Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo yet to establish the consistency justifying such high prices.
Belgium international Amadou Onana was linked with a host of Premier League clubs before joining Villa in a club-record £50m deal from Everton a month before this campaign began, while boyhood Arsenal fan Mikel Merino (£30m) returned to England’s top-flight with the Gunners, though both were on Barcelona’s shortlist.
The restrictive salary cap that has hamstrung Barca over the past two years will be eased in January and 17-year-old midfielder Marc Bernal was singled out for extraordinary praise by Pep Guardiola during their pre-season friendly, though he’ll miss the remainder of the season after rupturing his ACL last month.
Flick is content with his versatile options for that No. 6 role, including Eric Garcia and former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, while Fermin Lopez (muscle) and Frenkie de Jong (ankle) are nearing returns after dealing with their own problems.
Deco could only offer Lavia a loan move and Chelsea swooped in for his signature under Liverpool’s noses, while Chukwuemeka could be a more feasible option as the 2003-born midfielder targets continuity and an opportunity for extended minutes.
Picture source: Getty Images
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