It hasn’t been confirmed, but it has now widely been reported that Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Strasbourg midfielder Valentin Barco. Now, Gary O’Neil’s stance has been revealed.
Among others, Fabrizio Romano confirmed Chelsea had agreed a deal to sign 21-year-old Barco. It sees Chelsea raid Strasbourg once again, while also forming a reunion between Barco and boss Liam Rosenior.
Barco has certainly earned a move to a big club. The Argentina international has been on fire in Ligue 1 since he joined Strasbourg on loan from Brighton in January 2025. He signed permanently that summer.
PROVE ME WRONG: No midfielder is more perfect for Caicedo, than Barco 🔟
Chelsea have reportedly agreed a deal for Barco.
The stats show Barco can be the perfect foil alongside Moises Caicedo, and now, it appears he will be on his way to West London this summer. Rosenior will be delighted, but his predecessor Gary O’Neil isn’t.
Gary O’Neil not happy with Strasbourg selling Valentin Barco
The issue with the Strasbourg-Chelsea connection is that while Strasbourg will always lose their best players, and certainly their young wonderkids, to Chelsea. Strasbourg profit too, but only with loans.
The only player to actually leave Chelsea and join Strasbourg permanently has been Ben Chilwell, given he had fallen down the pecking order. If Chelsea fans aren’t happy with BlueCo, Strasbourg fans feel worse.
Argentina v Zambia - International Friendly
Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images
So much so that it has been suggested that some Strasbourg fans are coming over from France to join in the next planned protest. When it comes to the specific sale of Barco, Strasbourg fans are not happy.
Neither is O’Neil, who replaced Rosenior when the former Hull manager was announced as Chelsea’s next gaffer. According to TalkSPORT, O’Neil does not feel ‘enamoured’ with the loss of Barco to Chelsea.
Which Chelsea players could join Strasbourg on loan?
Chelsea’s squad is bloated and it’s about to get a whole lot bigger with the summer additions of Barco, Emanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda. Plenty of players will be looking to leave on loan for game time.
Chelsea currently have Aaron Anselmino, Mike Penders and David Fofana on loan at Strasbourg. Penders is set to make a dent on Chelsea’s side next season but Anselmino and Fofana could well return on loan.
Are you excited by Barco’s summer arrival?
Rosenior's Strasbourg star is incoming.
Strasbourg, of course, can only have three Chelsea players on loan at any time. But with Barco leaving, the French side will almost certainly be looking to Chelsea’s midfield depth and requesting a player or two.
Barco’s arrival will push Dario Essugo down the pecking order, and the former Las Palmas man might be offered to the Ligue 1 side to get some game time after his injury. Many players will leave this summer.
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