Chelsea have been widely expected to sign Valentin Barco for 6 months or more – but as July rolls on, we still have nothing confirmed.
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The Athletic’s Deal Sheet for this week is out, and as always it’s full of fresh, updated information about Chelsea’s transfer business.
We noted with interest their words about Valentin Barco: “sources in France expect Valentin Barco to join from Strasbourg, although Chelsea have yet to confirm the switch.”
We’re curious what the delay is. The midfielder is at our BlueCo sister club, and it’s been widely assumed for months he will be coming to Chelsea this summer. The teams don’t really need to negotiate with one another in a traditional sense, as they have the same owners. So why the wait to confirm a deal we all know is happening?
Chelsea waiting for the right moment to announce Barco move
Valentin Barco plays for Argentina.
Valentin Barco (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Right now, Barco is still with the Argentina squad at the World Cup. Perhaps the explanation is simply that Chelsea don’t want to announce the move until they have the new man free to take some nice photos and give an interview at Stamford Bridge about how happy he is to be joining the club.
If the delay continues once Argentina are eliminated (which could be as soon as tomorrow night), then things will start to get suspicious.
In other news…
Fabrizio Romano last night confirmed an incoming Chelsea transfer which came from nowhere – the addition of another talented young attacker.
Xabi Alonso has been speaking about Enzo Fernandez, and it’s seeming more and more likely that the Argentine plays for Chelsea again next season.