Negotiations between Chelsea and Barcelona for Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner are at a ‘standstill’ because the Blues don’t want to strengthen a potential Champions League opponent.
That’s according to Sport, who say Chelsea have ‘put the talks on hold’ and ‘paralysed negotiations’ for the time being until Barcelona’s fate in the competition is decided.
They say that Barca are determined to give Xavi new signings in January, but the finances at the club mean they can’t make ‘major outlays’.
There is space for a low-cost arrival, though, and they believe that Chelsea duo Ziyech and Werner fall into this category.
Those in charge at Stamford Bridge are open to the idea of letting either player go, as Thomas Tuchel does not consider them ‘essential’ at this moment in time.
Chelsea have put the talks on ‘hold’ for the time being, however, as they don’t want to strengthen another side playing in the Champions League.
They are instead going to wait until Barcelona take on Bayern Munich on Wednesday 8th December, a game which will decide the Spanish side’s fate in the competition.
When that is known, they will ‘resume negotiations’, with Roman Abramovich refusing to make a decision until that point.
It’s not stated explicitly, but ‘it is clear’ that Barcelona will have an easier time getting either player if the Blaugrana are in the Europa League, where they will not be competition for Chelsea.
Sport say there is a ‘good understanding’ between all parties in the negotiations, so that’s a positive for all concerned, but there will be no news on the subject until the end of next week’s vital game at the Allianz Arena.
