Barcelona & Chelsea set to agree deal with £100,000K-a-week attacker after showing interest
According to Teamtalk, Barcelona is considering a deal for Carney Chukwuemeka, a young offensive midfielder for Chelsea, as the Catalan giants try to bolster their roster in advance of the upcoming campaign.
The intrigue stems from Hansi Flick’s ongoing shaping of his revamped Barcelona squad, with the club’s budgetary limitations posing a major obstacle during the current transfer window.
Barcelona has already signed Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig despite their financial struggles, and it is now thought that they are focusing on Chukwuemeka, a highly-rated player who has battled to get regular playing time at Stamford Bridge because of recurrent injuries.
Chukwuemeka, 20, joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in 2022 for a fee of around £20 million.
While he has shown glimpses of his potential, his time in London has been marred by injuries, limiting him to just 27 appearances over two seasons, with 23 of those coming in the Premier League.
The midfielder’s contract with Chelsea runs until 2028 and includes a £40 million release clause, a figure that Barcelona might need to meet if they are to secure his services.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are reportedly open to the idea of selling Chukwuemeka but only on a permanent deal, as they have no intention of sending him out on loan.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are well-stocked in midfield, but the potential addition of Chukwuemeka could provide the team with an extra creative spark.
The Englishman has been on the radar of several clubs, including AC Milan, who made an unsuccessful attempt to sign him earlier this summer.
Fabrizio Romano, a well-known transfer expert, recently stated that while Chelsea are happy with Chukwuemeka and his development, they would be willing to consider a sale if the right offer comes in.
This stance leaves the door open for Barcelona to make a move, though it remains to be seen whether the Catalan club can muster the necessary funds.