The likelihood of Ilaix Moriba leaving Barcelona this summer is now very high, with Chelsea firmly in the race for his signature.
That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who cover the increasingly untenable situation around the youngster today.
The newspaper explains that Moriba and Barcelona are currently ‘very far apart’ in negotiations to extend his deal, which expires next summer.
That has pushed him close to the exit door, and Chelsea and RB Leipzig are the ‘main options’ for the player, with everyone assuming there could be a surprise before the end of the window.
Barcelona don’t want to give in and will demand €20m for a move to happen this summer, having ‘had enough’ of the player’s agents and their attitude.
Conversely, the player’s entourage believe they have been ‘disrespected’ by Barcelona, who have removed Moriba from the first team and put him in the spotlight to receive criticism, suggesting it’s a matter of money.
That’s something the agents deny, instead pointing to the fact he could have left for money in 2019 but gave up €1.5m at the time because Barça are the player’s favourite club.
Now they feel ‘betrayed’ and deny reports from Barcelona that there have been multiple offers for a renewal.
Barcelona have already rejected an offer from Leipzig worth €6m and suspect that the player already has an agreement in place with a different club, something his representatives do not deny.
In fact, according to MD’s information, the player was in London over the weekend, presumably to negotiate with Chelsea.
Unlike Leipzig, they have ‘economic potential’ to match Barcelona’s demands and also have a ‘good relationship’ with Barcelona to negotiate a deal.
They’ve been following Moriba for ‘several years’ and could now sign him before sending him to one of their ‘satellite clubs’ on loan if he doesn’t have the points required to earn a visa.
