Chelsea transfer talks ‘reach a dead end’ for Moscardo in boost for Barcelona

Pochettino gives Chelsea team news for Fulham trip

Chelsea transfer talks with Corinthians star Gabriel Moscardo have reportedly reached a ‘dead end’ after they saw two bids for the teenager rejected. The Blues have invested heavily in young prospects since the arrival of Todd Boehly, and the midfielder was identified as another player for their long-term project.

The Blues have splashed over £1billion over the last year and a half, investing mainly in players for the long-term future. Moises Caicedo, Wesley Fofana, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Marc Cucurella are among those to have joined the club during that time for significant fees.

Chelsea have also focused a considerable amount of their transfer funds on young players who can be loaned out until they are ready to play first-team football at Stamford Bridge. Angelo, Andrey Santos and Diego Moreira are among the plethora of stars to fall into that bracket, though the Blues continue to scour the market for further signings.

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, Chelsea identified Moscardo as a target over the summer and have been locked in negotiations with Corinthians for the midfielder for the past two months. The Blues have seen two bids rejected for the services of the 18-year-old, with their latest offer of £18.9million falling short of his £26m asking price.

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After such extended talks, negotiations are said to have reached a ‘dead end’ and Mauricio Pochettino’s side have walked away from the table. Chelsea’s decision has consequently opened the door for Barcelona to pounce, with manager Deco said to be the driving force behind the interest after he was identified as a target last year.

The La Liga outfit are keen admirers of Moscardo and are expected to make a concrete offer to acquire his services when the transfer window opens in January. It is said though that they remain weary that Chelsea could reignite their interest and try and hijack any potential deal.

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Pochettino already has numerous midfielders to work with as it stands so it is unlikely that he has been left feeling overly deflated by the failed transfer pursuit. With Caicedo, Fernandez, Connor Gallagher, Lesley Ugochukwa and Carney Chukwuemeka all options for the ex-Tottenham boss, the Argentine is currently spoiled for choice given that Chelsea do not need to frequently rotate due to their lack of European football.

Instead, Pochettino may favour more attacking players being targeted in January. The Blues are expected to be in the market for a striker in the mid-season window following Nicolas Jackson’s underwhelming start to life in the Premier League.

Napoli star Victor Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney are both high on the shortlist at Stamford Bridge, despite their significant price tags. Arsenal are also being heavily linked with England centre-forward Toney.

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