Chelsea duo targeted by Barcelona in January transfer

Suraj Radia

• 16 Oct 2024 17:30 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona ‘have their eyes set on Chelsea’ in January, with the Spanish giants ready to raid the Blues for two long-term transfer targets to bolster their midfield.

Hansi Flick’s side have impressed in their start to the season despite numerous injuries in the middle of the park, with Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez injured, while youngster Marc Bernal tore his cruciate ligament in August.

But with Olmo and Fermin set to return soon, as well as long-term absentee Gavi, Flick has insisted he is happy with his midfield options, although Barcelona could still strengthen their options in January with their financial situation improving.

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SPORT claims that Chelsea duo Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka could be lined up, particularly if either players are allowed to depart Stamford Bridge on loan in January.

Barca chief Deco is said to have always been ‘very fond’ of Lavia, having been unable to sign the 20-year-old before he joined Chelsea in 2023.

Chukwuemeka, meanwhile, was offered to Barcelona in the summer and the Catalans could return for a renewed approach in the winter as he continues to seek first-team minutes, although Flick is keen to rely on his current crop of players.

Chelsea could sanction departure of midfielder

Enzo Maresca has seemingly settled on Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo as his double pivot this season, with the duo starting all but one game in the Premier League as a partnership.

The situation has left Lavia playing just 77 minutes in the league this season, while Chukwuemeka has not featured at all this campaign barring 14 minutes in the Carabao Cup.

With summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and youngster Cesare Casadei still also battling for minutes, Chelsea could be open to the departure of a midfielder in January.

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Maresca has previously admitted that he would have preferred Chukwuemeka to have left the club on loan during the summer, indicating Barcelona would likely have the most success at targeting the 20-year-old.

Having paid more than €60 million for Lavia last summer and seeing the Belgian miss virtually the whole of last season through injury, Chelsea would be unlikely to let him leave, particularly due to his role as a backup to Caciedo and Fernandez.