Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had to contend with a lot of disruption over the summer.
Enzo Maresca had to significantly cut down his squad and that led to difficult transfer decisions – with Raheem Sterling offloaded to Arsenal on loan, as an example.
The Italian head coach has also had to exclude a number of first-teamers from his matchday squad, including Ben Chilwell.
Another high-profile Chelsea player is yet to feature in the Premier League this season and now it’s just come to light, that Barcelona are interested in signing him.
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Barcelona director Deco interested in Carney Chukwuemeka
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona director Deco is eyeing a move to sign Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka.
The former Chelsea midfielder is spearheading Barca’s recruitment and he’s looking at a couple of players in Maresca’s squad.
Romeo Lavia is also being considered by the Catalan giants and it’s understood Deco tried to sign him in 2023.
Sport further claim that Hansi Flick isn’t too keen on signing Chukwemeka as he wants to give La Masia’s prestigious academy a chance.
It remains to be seen if he shares that same notion regarding the potential Lavia deal.
Enzo Maresca told Chukwuemeka to leave in the summer
Chukwuemeka’s £20m switch from Aston Villa just hasn’t really worked out and Maresca actually advised him to leave in the summer.
“I will say exactly the same thing I have said many times,” the former Leicester City boss said last month, via GOAL.
“Carney is a very good player, but for the amount of players we have, we decided at the beginning of the season it is probably better to leave and go somewhere, prove himself and playing 30 or 35 games than being here and play less games.
“Unfortunately that didn’t happen. He is our player. He had some minutes the other day, today he was not involved. Hopefully, we can give him more minutes.”
Evidently, Maresca has deemed Chukwuemeka surplus to requirements, so if Barcelona do come calling this winter, it’s likely that he’ll leave Stamford Bridge.