Branislav Ivanovic to Barcelona: It wont go away
Branislav Ivanovic to Barcelona is growing a little in the Spanish media. It’s all part of the Catalan club’s wish to sign a flexible fullback in January.
Luis Enrique has well and truly fallen out with the idea of Aleix Vidal being a worthy option. Barcelona are looking to sell the former Sevilla player for €12m and Chelsea’s Ivanovic is just one of several potential replacements reported on constantly.
The right back, who can also play in central defence, turns 33 years of age in February, and his Chelsea contract runs out in June. Ivanovic may therefore fit in with the Barcelona plan of a veteran who would be available for a nominal fee.
Basically, they want to do this on the cheap.
The problem there is that Ivanovic won’t be earning cheap wages at Chelsea. So if Barcelona are sticking to their value guns then that would disqualify the player unless he’s willing to take a pay cut.
The likelihood of this going any further than mild interest would rest on how many other options are a ‘real possibility’. If Branislav Ivanovic to Barcelona is one of 3 options then it’s interesting, if he’s one of more than 20 then this is all mild stuff.
Antonio Conte will likely be seeing a future for his Chelsea team which doesn’t include Ivanovic. Therefore if Barcelona come in, and Ivanovic can agree personal terms, Chelsea are hardly likely to stand in the player’s way.
Signing for the club in 2008, Ivanovic has provided great service to Chelsea over the best part of a decade. If he fancies being a Barcelona squad player for a year or so then it may be an excellent way to round off his top class career.
