Bayern Munich and Chelsea are reportedly keeping close tabs on Gavi’s situation at Barcelona, with his current contract expiring in 2023.
According to a report from Fichajes, Barcelona are facing a battle to keep hold of Gavi beyond the summer. The youngster has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence over the past 12 months or so, and while the player remains happy at Camp Nou, he is yet to sign a new contract with the Catalans.
With Gavi’s current deal expiring at the end of next season, he has now become a potential target for Premier League giants Chelsea. German Rekordmeister Bayern Munich are involved in the chase as well, with Julian Nagelsmann keen on shoring up his options in the middle of the park.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Gavi is particularly interesting given the club’s current situation. With Roman Abramovich being hit by sanctions by the UK Government, the club have been effectively barred from conducting any business in the transfer market. They are not even allowed to sell new matchday tickets, while Abramovich himself cannot sell the club.
The recent revelation has put the future of many Chelsea players and even staff members under jeopardy. Sporting director Marina Granovskaia and chairman Bruce Buck are already expected to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer, whereas Jamie Carragher has recently urged Manchester United to poach Thomas Tuchel.
However, that has not deterred Chelsea from building a proper market policy for the upcoming summer transfer window. With the likes of Jorginho facing an uncertain future at the club, the midfield department has been identified as a potential weakness. And that is where someone like Gavi could come into the fray.
The Spanish prodigy has shown immense potential this season, emerging as one of Barcelpna’s top-performing players under Xavi Hernandez. His technical prowess, versatility and overall ball quality could make him an exciting addition to Chelsea’s midfield unit that has flourished in recent years.
However, it won’t be surprising to see Gavi remaining at Barcelona, given that he already shares a strong rapport with Xavi. Perhaps most importantly, Barcelona have emerged as one of the most exciting sporting projects this season as the Blaugrana continue to redeem their squad with a unique mix of homegrown stars and new signings.
Also Read: Chelsea and Abramovich in limbo: What do the UK government sanctions mean for the club?
Hence, it could only be a matter of time before Gavi ends up signing a new contract at Barcelona, who are likely to wait until the end of the season before extending the contract of some of the undervalued members of the first team, including Gavi and Ronald Araujo.