Chelsea could watch one recent target join their rivals Manchester United in the summer.
Chelsea tried to offer Romelu Lukaku in a swap deal for Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella, a report from Tuttomercatoweb claimed last month.
Nothing happened in the end, though, and it now looks like United could be Barella’s destination if he decides he wants to move to England. According to InterLive, the Red Devils could be prepared to offer €80m (£68.4m) for the 27-year-old if Dan Ashworth becomes their sporting director.
The outlet claims that Ashworth is keen to bring Barella to Old Trafford should his move from Newcastle United go through.
Chelsea have not been afraid to spend big on midfielders, breaking their transfer record twice to sign Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Manchester United legend Paul Ince has called for the former to be given time as he continues to settle to life at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United more likely to sign Nicolo Barella than Chelsea
We do not see Chelsea signing Barella in the summer, as the Blues have already revamped their midfield.
On top of Caicedo and Fernandez, the club also brought in Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu last year.
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It is good news for United fans, though a deal looks like it could be dependent on whether Ashworth becomes the club’s new sporting director.
Does the above mean there is absolutely no chance of Chelsea signing the Italy international or another midfielder in the next transfer window? No, as there is a possibility of Conor Gallagher having to be replaced.
Gallagher is out of contract in 2025, so the club may be forced to sell the 24-year-old at the end of the season to avoid the risk of losing him on a free. However, Gallagher signing a new deal seems way more likely than Barella joining Chelsea. It will obviously be a much cheaper operation as well.
