Chelsea’s Argentine contingent is set to increase by one this summer with the addition of Valentin Barco, but the Blues could add to that group further with the signing of Boca’s Tomas Aranda.
Barco is set to complete a permanent move from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer. Fabrizio Romano reports a deal is done, and the midfielder will swap BlueCo clubs to reunite with boss Liam Rosenior.
Reports in Argentina claim Barco is due to sign a five-year contract at Chelsea, which will last until the summer of 2031. But he might not be the only Argentine talent to move to West London this summer.
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Rosenior's Strasbourg star is incoming.
Indeed, a new report from South America claims that Chelsea and Manchester United are doing battle for a player who has followed in Barco’s footsteps. Boca Juniors’ latest talent to shine, Tomas Aranda.
Chelsea and Man United battle for Tomas Aranda
Barco would break into the Boca senior side from the academy and play 35 times. Well, 18-year-old Aranda is well on his way to matching Barco and even overtaking the former Brighton star’s Boca stats.
There has been a bit of a transition period at La Bombonera, and it has seen the likes of Edinson Cavani, Miguel Merentiel, Ander Herrera dropped for younger players. Aranda is one of those, Boca’s next gem.
Talleres v Boca Juniors - Torneo Apertura 2026
Photo by Cesar Heredia/Getty Images
A pocket-sized Aranda has now clocked up 11 senior outings for Boca. In Boca’s second-last league game, he opened his account during a 2-0 win over Instituto, and that has certainly caught the eye.
According to Argentine newspaper El Intransigente, Chelsea and Man United are both keeping tabs on Aranda. It is claimed that the two Premier League giants will attempt a move in June this summer.
Juan Roman Riquelme’s stance revealed regarding Aranda
The same report has also detailed Juan Roman Riquelme’s stance on the matter. The legendary Argentina and Villarreal midfielder is the president of Boca Juniors, where he played 388 times during his career.
It is reported that Riquelme is unwilling to sell Aranda and wants to keep the teenager at La Bombonera for the next season or two at least. Aranda has a contract with Boca until December 31, 2029.
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Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Clearly, if Chelsea or Man United are going to tempt Boca, it will require a big transfer fee. Perhaps, the presence of Cavani and Herrera may tip the scales in United’s favour, given they played at Old Trafford.
But Chelsea’s Argentine contingent is growing. Aaron Anselmino, Enzo Fernandez and Alejandro Garnacho currently reside at Chelsea, with Barco set to join. Perhaps, Aranda could make that five.
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