Chelsea went into the transfer window needing reinforcements at striker, on the left flank, and at centre-back. They have successfully filled two of those positions. The club have brought in Liam Delap and Joao Pedro as new forwards and Jamie Gittens, who is expected to be their starting left-winger moving forward.
However, Chelsea are not only targeting those positions, as they have also shown interest in players operating in other areas of the pitch. That includes a number of talented midfielders despite having one of the best midfield departments in Europe.
Chelsea were earlier linked with Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado. The youngster signed a contract extension with the La Liga club not too long but it has been suggested that they would be open to his exit if the right offer comes in.
As reported by SPORT, Barcelona would listen to offers for Casado if they reach €50 million. The Blaugrana club knows of Chelsea's interest and needs a big transfer exit.
Barcelona open to Casado's exit amid Chelsea interest
Casado came through La Masia and prefers to play in the defensive midfield position. He can also operate in central midfield and right-back areas. He appeared in 36 matches last season for Barcelona, and there’s little doubt regarding his talent.
Having said that, paying such a hefty sum for an unproven player like Casado makes little sense. Chelsea have repeatedly brought in young talents with limited experience, many of whom have failed to establish themselves. Moreover, the club already have quality options like Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos and Romeo Lavia at their disposal.
There are other areas the club should focus on instead of wasting money on arguably the strongest position in the squad. They still need a reliable centre-back and, preferably, a new goalkeeper as well. The Blues will need a balanced team to compete for multiple trophies next season.