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£78m double transfer move from Barcelona for two Chelsea players has caused a disagreement between Hansi Flick and Deco

Barcelona’s *Sport* reports that the La Liga club is looking to sign Chelsea players Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka in January to bolster their midfield. Deco is particularly interested in Lavia, who he missed out on when Chelsea acquired him from Southampton in August 2023. He also sees potential in negotiating for Chukwuemeka, as Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has not been utilizing the England U21 international.

However, not all Barcelona officials support this strategy. According to *Sport*, Hansi Flick prefers to develop talent from Barcelona’s La Masia academy instead of pursuing new signings. One promising player, 17-year-old Marc Bernal, has shown great early season potential but is currently sidelined with a torn ACL, requiring surgery that will keep him out until the 2025-26 season.

Barcelona has other young midfielders in their ranks, and Flick is eager to provide them with playing time. He believes that focusing on homegrown talent would not only win over fans but also save the club money for other transfer opportunities.

Given recent challenges, it’s understandable why Deco is looking to add midfielders. Ilkay Gundogan left for Manchester City in the summer, and key players like Bernal, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo are all injured. Additionally, there is ongoing speculation about Frenkie de Jong potentially leaving next summer.

Deco feels Chelsea is hindering Lavia and Chukwuemeka from reaching their potential. Lavia has struggled with injuries at Chelsea, while Maresca seems open to letting Chukwuemeka go. Despite some successful transfers like Cole Palmer, Lavia and Chukwuemeka have not performed as expected.

If Chelsea were to sell either player, they would likely incur a financial loss. Lavia was acquired for an initial £53 million, potentially rising to £58 million, while Chukwuemeka was bought for £20 million from Aston Villa.

Given Flick’s strong preference for promoting La Masia talent, it seems unlikely that Barcelona’s board would endorse Deco’s pursuit of these players. Meanwhile, Chelsea is hopeful that Lavia can start proving his worth now that he has recovered from his hamstring injury, though Chukwuemeka’s future at the club remains uncertain.

 

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