While Barcelona are pushing for a player exchange, Chelsea remain firmly in the hunt and could hold a strategic advantage. The Blues have recently pocketed €60 million from the sale of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid, providing them with the necessary liquid capital to meet the asking price. The driving force behind the pursuit is head coach Xabi Alonso, who has been a long-term admirer of Cambiaso since his own managerial stint in Madrid.
Alonso views the wing-back as the perfect fit for his strict positional play system at Stamford Bridge. In the Spaniard's tactical framework, the left-back is required to do more than just provide width, often moving infield to take on playmaking responsibilities in the centre of the pitch. It was precisely this inverted role that saw the player produce his finest performances in Italy under Thiago Motta, right before Manchester City also began tracking his progress.