Barcelona midfield sensation Gavi has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for Chelsea, with the Blues ready to pay €50 million for the youngster.
According to a report from Catalan publication El Nacional, Chelsea are interested in signing Barcelona prodigy Gavi and are willing to meet his release clause, which currently stands at €50 million.
A product of the Barcelona youth academy, the 17-year-old Gavi joined La Masia from Real Betis in 2015. He burst onto the scenes during the pre-season this past summer and soon integrated himself into the first team at Camp Nou. Having made his debut in August, the teenager has become a regular fixture in the middle of the park for the Catalans.
To date, Gavi has made 14 appearances across all competitions for the Blaugrana, registering a solitary assist. By far one of Barcelona’s most impressive players in the ongoing campaign, the midfielder even broke into the Spanish national team and shone brightly during their UEFA Nations League fixtures last month.
Gavi’s rise to prominence in a very short time has not gone unnoticed as Chelsea have taken a keen interest in the 17-year-old midfielder. The Blues have a packed midfield contingent as things stand, with N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek all available at Thomas Tuchel’s disposal, along with on-loan midfielder Saul Niguez.
In addition, the likes of Billy Gilmour and Conor Gallagher would add to the Blues’ options once they return from their loan spell next summer. But with Kante and Jorginho not getting any younger, adding someone like Gavi would allow the west London outfit to build a strong, young core for the future.
Gavi’s current contract with Barcelona runs till the summer of 2023. Currently still on the wage bill of the B team, the 17-year-old has a release clause of €50 million, which will automatically rise to €100 million once he is bumped up to the first-team roster officially. Furthermore, the Catalans are already working on a new deal for the 17-year-old and plan to include a release clause worth €1 billion.
This would make it practically impossible for Chelsea to sign the Spanish international, given that he is intent on staying put at Barcelona. So, while the Blues may be ready to offer €50 million, a deal is unlikely to take place anytime soon. So, they would be better off looking at alternatives, with Aurelien Tchouameni a key target.
