Chelsea are working overtime to bring in multiple players ahead of the Club World Cup campaign. Their first signing, Liam Delap, has already been announced by the club, with a few other deals reportedly in the pipeline. While the Blues’ primary focus appears to be on strengthening their forward line and defensive ranks, they are also exploring reinforcements in other areas.
The club already has plenty of quality options in midfield, but they still appear keen to add more strength to that area. If reports are accurate than that saw them make an ambitious swap offer.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo (via Mirror). Chelsea proposed a swap deal that would have seen Christopher Nkunku and Fermin Lopez exchange clubs. FC Barcelona rejected the offer.
Lopez is not a nailed-on starter for Barcelona yet. But he scored 8 goals and provided 10 assists in 2039 minutes of playing time last season. He is also a full Spanish international.
Barcelona rejects Chelsea’s swap offer to bring in Lopez in exchange of Nkunku
Nkunku joined Chelsea in 2023 but has since looked a shadow of the player he was at RB Leipzig. He has struggled to find his footing at the club, which has pushed him down the pecking order. Right now, he is more of a cup starter and an option on the bench when it comes to the Premier League.
With the arrival of Chelsea’s new number nine, Liam Delap, Nkunku’s minutes are likely to decrease even further. This could be one of the reasons the club is considering an exit.
Nkunku still has four years remaining on his Chelsea contract, but given his current role in the squad, it seems unlikely he will stay for the full duration. Even though a swap deal involving Lopez might not take place, the Frenchman is still expected to complete a move away from Stamford Bridge at some point this summer.