Chelsea transfer targets on display in Champions League Round of 16
By George Perry
Chelsea’s top transfer target Marco Verratti had a stellar outing as Paris Saint-Germain shredded Barcelona in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez may be ready to walk in the front doors of Stamford Bridge and beg for a contract.
Marco Verratti is one of the few players that would rightly command a large portion of the Oscar windfall as his transfer fee and wage packet. Verratti had four tackles, an assist and 92% pass completion in PSG’s 4-0 win over Barcelona.
After the match, Verratti reiterated his loyalty to Paris Saint-Germain and his commitment to finish what he started.
"I’m pleased to attract interest from the big clubs, but I don’t want to change. I am part of a great project and we want to become one of the top three in Europe. – Metro"
Verratti has spent nearly his entire senior career at Paris Saint-Germain, joining in 2012. He won the Ligue One title each of those years, ensuring consistent Champions League ball. He has 35 Champions League appearances, but has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals.
Despite his loyalty to the club, his desire to win a more competitive league and move deeper on the European stage may compel him to leave France.
"Ultimately it will be ambition that takes him out of Ligue One. Even Zlatan left. Once you’ve done it several times over, how interesting can it really still be to you? He has such unbelievable potential. He can genuinely be a top player, but we’ll never know if he never tests himself. He can only be rated so highly if he plays in Ligue One forever. – Barrett Rouen, The Blue Lions"
Paris Saint-Germain would demand – and should receive – the entirety of the Oscar windfall for Verratti. Chelsea would also need to top that off with contributions from the Mikel John Obi and Branislav Ivanovic transfer revenue. Chelsea should expect to pay from the mid-£60 to mid-£70 million for Verratti.
At the other end of this week’s Champions League success (and on the subject of clubs who never advance very far), Alexis Sanchez has to be seriously questioning his choices in life right now. Bayern Munich handed Arsenal and Arsene Wenger a historically brutal defeat.
Sanchez scored Arsenal’s only goal. He knocked in the second rebound from his own penalty, which Manuel Neuer initially saved. Sanchez’s goal took Arsenal to half-time at 1-1, but then the Arsenal happened.
Sanchez has cut a dejected figure at the Emirates for most of the season. His dismay at Olivier Giroud’s scorpion kick celebration dance, his palpable frustration with his teammates and his sad realization that this is just another typical year for Arsenal paint the picture of a man searching for a transfer.
Alexis Sanchez has not been substantially linked with any clubs so far, but the chatter (and offers) will heat up as the summer approaches. At 28 years old he still has a few prime years left, and would not significantly hinder an Academy player’s progression into Chelsea’s lineup.
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Rescuing Sanchez from Arsenal is nearly a humanitarian thing to do. Arsenal will be loathe to do business with Chelsea, particularly if it involves giving up one of their few bright spots. The Blues, though, may be able to capitalize on post-season upheaval at the Emirates to pull Sanchez to Stamford Bridge.