Chelsea have reportedly identified an Atletico Madrid midfielder as a potential summer transfer target.
Despite sitting in fourth position in the Premier League table, the Blues are currently going through an indifferent run of form.
That can partly be attributed to a lack of depth in central midfield, the injury absence of Romeo Lavia leaving Enzo Maresca with Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as his three options.
Although Mathis Amougou was signed from Saint-Etienne during the winter transfer window, the 19-year-old Frenchman is not expected to feature regularly between now and the end of the campaign.
As such, it is realistic to expect Chelsea to enter the market for a fresh face for the engine room ahead of 2025-26.
© Imago
Barrios on Chelsea radar?
According to Fichajes, Chelsea are giving consideration to making a big-money approach for Atletico's Pablo Barrios.
The 21-year-old has been a regular for Diego Simeone's side this season, making 21 starts and one substitute outing in La Liga and the Champions League.
That has taken the academy graduate to 85 senior appearances for the first team, contributing three goals and five assists, while he has already made his international bow for Spain.
Holding a contract until 2028, Barrios is tied to Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the long term, yet Atletico are aware of the profit that they could generate in the eyes of the relevant financial regulations.
Chelsea are allegedly prepared to pay in the region of €70m (£58.36m) for Barrios, who would fit the profile of player that the Premier League side have tried to acquire since the arrival of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital as co-owners.
© Imago
Is a transfer plausible?
With Chelsea having generated sizeable loan fees for several players during the winter transfer window, they are in a stronger position heading into the summer.
That said, Maresca may wish to prioritise a new goalkeeper and centre-forward over bringing in a new central midfielder when Andrey Santos - currently on loan at Strasbourg - will be integrated into the squad.
Providing that Lavia, Barrios could find himself as no better than fourth choice, making it doubtful as to whether he would want to give up his spot in Atletico's side.
Furthermore, Atletico may not want to sell. The two clubs share a strained relationship over the saga that unfolded with Conor Gallagher, Samu Omorodion and Joao Felix last summer.
Darren Plant
