Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba is prepared to spend a year sitting on the sidelines, as Chelsea ‘remain vigilant’ to the possible signing.
Moriba’s contract at the Camp Nou expires next summer, and he is yet to agree to a new deal at the club, despite there being a willingness from both sides to make it happen.
Recent reports have indicated that there has been a breakdown in the talks and Sport, covering comments from Deportes Cuatro, continue on that line today.
They say the midfielder has refused to accept the renewal offer on the table, so Barcelona have decided to take a ‘series of measures’ to try to speed up the process.
His contract expires in June next year, so he is free to negotiate a contract with a new club from the January transfer window and believes that a year without playing is a ‘toll’ he must pay in order to leave for free.
Several clubs are keen on signing him if he becomes available as expected, including Chelsea, who have been heavily linked in recent weeks.
They wanted him as a youngster and are ‘keeping a close eye’ on the situation but could face competition from RB Leipzig, who have shown the most interest in signing him in recent weeks.
The Germans see it as a ‘good market opportunity’ given their history of signing young talent from around Europe.
Barcelona would be willing to listen to offers for the midfielder, yet it remains to be seen whether Leipzig will definitely go for him this summer or wait until next year.
The third possible scenario is that the player backs down and agrees to renew his contract with Barcelona, but club sources admit that possibility is looking increasingly remote, a bonus for Chelsea and Moraix’s other suitors.
