Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has set his sights on two Chelsea midfielders, Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka, ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports. The Spanish giants are exploring potential loan moves for the pair due to their limited game time under Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea has enjoyed a strong start to the Premier League season under Maresca, remaining unbeaten since their opening-day loss. The Italian coach was named Manager of the Month for September. However, Chelsea’s large squad has left several players struggling for regular minutes, including Lavia and Chukwuemeka, which has drawn Barcelona’s attention.
Lavia, who recently returned from a hamstring injury, was previously on Barcelona’s radar before his move to Stamford Bridge two summers ago. Chukwuemeka, on the other hand, has played just 15 minutes this season, featuring only in a Carabao Cup match against Barrow. He has yet to make a Premier League matchday squad under Maresca.
Barcelona, currently topping La Liga, are dealing with injuries to key midfielders such as Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and summer signing Dani Olmo. Despite this, head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not fully convinced that the club needs additional midfield cover, citing his confidence in young talents like Marco Casado and Marc Bernal, as well as the return of Frenkie de Jong.
Both Lavia and Chukwuemeka would likely be considered for loan moves rather than permanent transfers. Chelsea is expected to offload some players in January, with Ben Chilwell also rumored to be on his way out, potentially heading to Serie A side Napoli.
