Chelsea ‘launch bid to sign Barcelona star Gavi’ this summer
Chelsea ‘launch bid to sign Gavi this summer’ as Barcelona struggle to register the 18-year-old star’s new contract with LaLiga amid financial troubles…and the midfielder could be available for NOTHING
- Barcelona have been unable to register Gavi’s contract with LaLiga
- Chelsea could take advantage of their financial struggle to sign the 18-year-old midfielder
- A first meeting with the player’s agent took place three weeks ago in Madrid
Chelsea have launched an operation this summer to sign young star Gavi from Barcelona – talks are reportedly already underway between The Blues and the player’s representatives.
The 18-year-old Spanish international midfielder could be available for nothing if the contract registration spat between his club and LaLiga is not resolved.
Barcelona have been unable to register Gavi as a first-team player, despite his importance to the side, due to their ongoing financial problems.
Diary AS reported that Chelsea plans to take advantage of the situation by presenting a convincing case to persuade the teenager to join them.
They say a first meeting took place three weeks ago in Madrid between Gavi’s midfielder Ivan de la Pena and Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell.
Chelsea have reportedly launched an operation to sign Barcelona midfielder Gavi
Barcelona are struggling to register Gavi as a first-team player due to financial problems
Chelsea’s aim was to express their desire to sign Gavi and to emphasize how important a role he would be to them in the future.
According to AS, the first meeting was satisfactory for all involved and a second meeting is expected soon to discuss next steps.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has reportedly begun the club’s pursuit of the midfielder – who could be available for nothing
Gavi is not happy with Barcelona because of the way they handled the contract situation after he was stripped of the number 6 shirt, as legends like Xavi said, and forced to return to the number 30.
Barcelona have been unable to sign him up as a member of the first team, but are adamant about finding a solution for next season.
The four-year contract extension Gavi signed in September, which included an £879m (€1bn) escape clause, is no longer valid as LaLiga failed to register it.
Gavi could leave for nothing in the summer if no answer is found, a real bargain for Chelsea, who spent £323m on new players in January.
Barcelona had initially managed to find a legal route around LaLiga’s refusal to register Gavi’s new deal, but this was reversed on 25 March and he reverted to a youth team contract, negating his transfer market value.
It could very well be that former Barcelona player and manager Luis Enrique could be Gavi’s manager at Chelsea next season, following talks with owner Todd Boehly last week.
Gavi has been stripped of his number 6 shirt at Barcelona and removed as an official first-team player amid registration row with LaLiga
LaLiga has confirmed on its website that Gavi has switched back to his old shirt number
The teenager is already a mainstay in Barca’s midfield but will not be classed as a first-team star
Gavi could eventually play under former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique at Stamford Bridge
The Blues are on the hunt for a new permanent manager after Graham Potter was sacked as the club languished in the middle of the Premier League.
Frank Lampard returned to the club as interim manager last week, starting his tenure with a 1-0 defeat at Wolves on Saturday.
