Chelsea are looking to add more quality to their midfield following their Champions League qualification. Enzo Maresca seeks more depth in the centre of the park and according to a report from CaughtOffside, the Blues have their eyes set on Valentin Barco, who has been doing wonders on loan at RC Strasbourg.
Barca had already made quite a name for himself coming up the ranks at Boca Juniors. His impressive performances had put him on the radar of quite a few top clubs but Brighton managed to win the race for his services.
While he spent the first half of the season on loan at Sevilla, the 20-year-old only had limited opportunities at the Spanish club. He ended up joining RC Strasbourg for the second half and the move to France has certainly helped his cause.
He featured in a total of 15 matches and even contributed towards two goals. While he prefers playing as a central midfielder, he was even deployed as a left-back on occasions. The Argentine international’s maturity and versatility have earned him a lot of admiration from Enzo Maresca as well as Chelsea’s recruitment team.
They have been following him closely during his loan spell in France and are now considering making a move for him this summer. While the Blues are yet to begin formal negotiations with Brighton, internal discussions are already underway.
Barco is seen as an ideal fit for their project as he is young and has the potential to be an important first-team player in the future. Maresca seeks more depth and quality in midfield and they believe the 20-year-old’s versatility could come in handy. He could play a key role in their ongoing rebuild.
In addition to his seamless transition between midfield and defence, his ball retention and high pressing have caught Maresca’s eye. He’s shown all the traits needed to make an impact at the highest level, qualities Chelsea are always on the lookout for.
