Chelsea offered surprise swap deal by Barcelona
Jacque Talbot
- Updated: 29 Apr 2024 16:28 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona could offer Chelsea the chance of a swap deal that would see the Premier League outfit bring in young defender Pau Cubarsi.
The Blues have eyes on Cubarsi and believe that by offering Ian Maatsen a move to the Nou Camp, they could land him.
Earlier this month, reports emerged suggesting Barcelona's interest in acquiring Maatsen from Chelsea, as his contract as a wing-back was approaching expiration. As FootballTransfers reported, the west London club activated a contract clause to extend his deal by an additional 12 months, in a bid to ensure that the former Burnley loanee would not move the following summer.
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The Dutchman, who came close to joining Burnley for £31.5 million last summer, may leave Chelsea even still, as the club is reportedly prepared to sell him if he hesitates to commit to a longer-term contract.
It is believed that Barcelona might be enticed to use the Cubarsi as a bargaining chip to secure Maatsen's transfer, according to Spanish outlet Sport.
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Chelsea have pursued the 16-year-old during the summer, but he chose to extend his stay with Barcelona, even though he was tempted to move to Stamford Bridge.
How much would Cubarsi cost Chelsea?
Chelsea are willing to meet Cubarsi’s £13 million release clause but they could potentially save money by engaging in swap deal negotiations with Barcelona for Maatsen, who has seen limited playing time under Mauricio Pochettino this season.
The defender has seen only 83 minutes of Premier League action. Chelsea could potentially request a fee in the range of £20 million, in addition to Cubarsi, to facilitate a deal with the Spanish giants.
In the Todd Boehly era, Chelsea have been targeting some of the brightest young sparks playing today. They brought in the likes of Kendry Paez, Angelo, Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington, and Romeo Lavia for over £100m.
