Chelsea plan Barcelona transfer revenge as Blues eye exciting star ‘ready to leave club’ Not Dembele
Chelsea are planning to exact transfer revenge on Barcelona by targeting the Catalan club’s youngster Alejandro Balde, who may inform his present squad that he is ready to leave.
The Blues were taken over by a group led by Todd Boehly last month, and their transfer restriction was lifted after it was imposed by previous oligarch owner Roman Abramovich after he was sanctioned in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Andreas Christensen is expected to join Barcelona this summer when his contract with Chelsea expires.
In addition, the Spanish giants could try to lure Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta away from Stamford Bridge.
If all three players depart west London, Chelsea’s Premier League chances could suffer significantly next season, having already losing Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid. And the Blues may try to respond.
According to The Mirror, Chelsea attempted to sign Balde a year ago but were unsuccessful.
However, they are considering making another offer for the left-back during the current transfer window, and will exploit Barcelona’s interest in Alonso and Azpilicueta to try to negotiate a deal for him.
Balde came through the Barcelona youth system and made his first-team debut as a late substitute against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last September under previous boss Ronald Koeman.
He went on to make five La Liga outings and two Champions League appearances last season.
The teenager, who is presently a member of Barcelona B, has been working alongside the first-team squad.
But he is desperate to play games and is set to inform Barcelona’s hierarchy that he will consider leaving the club unless he is assured more playing time throughout the 2022/23 season.
His current deal keeps him in the Nou Camp until the summer of 2024. If Barcelona cannot provide him with the opportunities he seeks, he may persuade club officials to let him leave in the coming months.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will be anxious to bring in new players after a poor season in which the squad fell out of contention for the title.
The Blues reached the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals, however both times they were defeated by Liverpool in penalty shootouts.
The west Londoners did, however, taste silverware when they won the Club World Cup in February 2021, following their Champions League victory the previous year.
Their sanctions during Abramovich’s tenure had a clear impact on their season. Tuchel, on the other hand, will be confident of victory next season if he can sign the players he wants.
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Chelsea plan Barcelona transfer revenge as Blues eye exciting star ‘ready to leave club’ Not Dembele
