Barcelona have turned to a Chelsea in their search for a striker, while Arsenal have offered Nicolas Pepe to a Premier League club…
BARCELONA ON ‘PLAN C’
Barcelona want to bring Chelsea flop Romelu Lukaku to the Camp Nou after giving up on other striker targets, according to reports in Spain.
The Catalan giants had been in pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland – who now looks likely to sign for Manchester City in the summer – and Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski but Spanish newspaper Marca insist it will be ‘very difficult’ for Barca to get either of those targets.
Instead, they have ‘set their sights’ on Lukaku at Chelsea as their ‘Plan C’ with the Belgium international ‘not comfortable’ at Stamford Bridge. He was brought in from Inter Milan in the summer for £97.5m but has scored just 12 goals in 40 appearances for the Blues this term.
Marca add that ‘everything indicates that he will leave’ Chelsea in the summer and there would be ‘several interested teams’. Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany and sporting advisor Jordi Cruyff have ‘already met’ with Lukaku’s agent to explore a possible deal but there is a suggestion a transfer could be beyond the Catalans depending on the asking price.
Barcelona will wait to find out the outcome of Chelsea’s takeover bids while president Joan Laporta continues to work out Barca’s summer transfer budget.
ARSENAL DESPERATE TO OFFLOAD PEPE
Arsenal look set to make a huge loss on Nicolas Pepe this summer as they prepare for his exit, according to reports.
The Gunners brought the Ivory Coast international to the Emirates Stadium back in 2019 for a huge £72m fee with the winger not living up to expectations. Pepe has scored 27 goals in 109 appearances since joining but he has only managed one Premier League goal in 17 appearances this season and now Arsenal are ready to sell up.
The Daily Express claims that Arsenal ‘are now looking to finally part ways…
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