On the back of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League, Chelsea are set for a big summer transfer window with a number of transfers certain to take place at the club.
While the Blues will look to eliminate surplus players from the squad, they must also build a team that can compete on multiple fronts.
According to a report by Caught Offside, Chelsea are monitoring Brighton’s Valentin Barco, who once played for Argentina, in an attempt to add depth and quality to the squad.
Barco has spent the second half of the season out on loan with Strasbourg, where he has played mostly as a midfielder, despite spending the majority of his short career up to that point as a left-back.
Barco registered two assists in 14 games for Strasbourg, and it’s said he has impressed with mature performances and versatility, with Chelsea admiring him for those.
The fact that he can play in a few positions makes him a valuable asset in multiple systems, and he’s caught the Blues’ attention due to his ball retention, positional fluidity and high pressing.
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Why Barco to Chelsea makes sense
Still only 20 and having played for Argentina already, Barco aligns with Chelsea’s transfer policy, as a young, high-potential player who can be developed.
It’s reported that the Blues will continue to track the Brighton man closely and might decide to pursue a deal once the transfer window opens.
If signed, Barco would join the likes of Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella to join the Blues from the Seagulls.
While Caicedo and Cucurella are seen as irreplaceable in their position for Chelsea, Sanchez has been far from impressive. No player made more errors leading to goals than Sanchez in the Premier League this season, and Chelsea could well be tempted to sell the Spaniard this summer.
In any case, Barco looks like a player well worth a punt as he could become an asset for Chelsea by playing a number of positions.
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