Barcelona are looking at Chelsea midfielders Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka in their search for January reinforcements, a report has claimed.
The La Liga leaders spent the summer hunting for a more physical profile to add to their midfield but, after losing out to Aston Villa in pursuit of Amadou Onana and Arsenal over Mikel Merino, ended the transfer window without making such a signing.
According to SPORT, sporting director Deco remains keen to find a midfielder who can bring a little more athleticism to the team and is on the hunt for any potential opportunities in January, searching Europe for any players who could be available.
Lavia and Chukwuemeka have both emerged as possible targets, with the two players struggling for minutes under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca for different reasons.
In Lavia’s case, the 20-year-old dazzled in pre-season before going down injured, and he now faces a battle to force his way back into a successful side. Chukwuemeka, however, is simply out of favour at Stamford Bridge, having been urged to leave Chelsea in the summer in search of regular minutes.
It is even claimed that Barcelona approached Chukwuemeka during the summer but failed to reach an agreement for the 20-year-old, who has just 14 minutes of Carabao Cup action to his name this season.
Barca boss Hansi Flick does not currently share the desire to sign a new midfielder. He believes Marc Casado is deserving of minutes, while 17-year-old Marc Bernal is seen as a significant hope for the future once he returns from his ACL injury next season.
Gavi and Fermin Lopez are both nearing comebacks from their own injuries, while Frenkie de Jong recently made his long-awaited return. With defenders Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen as emergency cover, Flick is of the opinion that Barca do not need to rush into anything.
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Barcelona’s pursuit of midfield reinforcements has led them to look towards Chelsea’s talented duo of Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka. The La Liga giants are eager to bolster their midfield options with more athleticism, following a disappointing transfer window where they missed out on key targets.
Despite their summer efforts to add a physical presence to their midfield, Barcelona were unable to secure the signings of Amadou Onana and Mikel Merino. Now, sporting director Deco is determined to rectify the situation in January and is exploring potential opportunities across Europe.
Lavia and Chukwuemeka have emerged as potential targets for Barcelona, as both players have found themselves on the fringes at Chelsea. While Lavia impressed in pre-season before succumbing to injury, Chukwuemeka has struggled to get regular minutes under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Barcelona’s interest in Chukwuemeka dates back to the summer, but a deal could not be reached at that time. The 20-year-old midfielder has had limited playing time this season, with just 14 minutes in the Carabao Cup to his name.
However, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is not currently in favor of signing a new midfielder, as he believes in the potential of players like Marc Casado and Marc Bernal. With key players returning from injury and emergency cover options in defense, Flick feels that Barcelona’s squad is strong enough for now.
As Barcelona continue their search for midfield reinforcements, they are keeping an eye on the progress of young talents like Gavi and Fermin Lopez, who are nearing their comebacks. Frenkie de Jong’s return from injury has also bolstered the squad, while promising defender Marc Bernal is set to be a key player in the future.
In conclusion, Barcelona’s pursuit of midfield reinforcements has led them to consider Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka as potential targets. While the club’s sporting director is eager to add more athleticism to the midfield, the current manager believes in the existing squad’s capabilities. With key players returning from injury and promising talents on the rise, Barcelona’s future looks bright as they aim to maintain their position at the top of La Liga.
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