Chelsea are reportedly interested in Barcelona pair Sergino Dest and Neto on a potential swap deal this summer.
According to Sport, the Blues are eyeing the duo in exchange for both Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta - the two having been linked with a summer switch to the Camp Nou. It is claimed the negotiations have reached their final stages, with Marina Granovskaia leading the negotiations for any deal.
With both Azpilicueta and Alonso seeing their respective deals expire in the summer of 2023, it is claimed that Chelsea are demanding compensation from Barcelona should the pair have aspirations on sealing moves to the Camp Nou.
Whilst it is not suggested how much the Catalan giants would be made to pay for the pair, a swap deal could be on the cards. It is claimed that Chelsea are ‘very interested’ in American full-back Dest, whilst goalkeeper Neto is also under consideration.
The Blues have actually been linked with Dest before. The former Ajax man’s name was mentioned as a potential arrival in January after the long-term injury suffered by Ben Chilwell.
It was suggested that Barcelona would have been open to selling due to their dire financial situation. In the end, he ended up remaining in Catalonia and has been in and out of the starting XI due to a number of injury and fitness issues.
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Elsewhere, Neto would likely represent a back-up goalkeeping option should he complete a switch to Stamford Bridge. The Brazilian became a Barcelona player back in 2019 after completing a switch from Spanish rivals Valencia but has only gone on to make 21 appearances in all competitions since.
As it stands, Chelsea are still unable to complete any deals due to their takeover situation. Todd Boehly is attempting to complete a deal but UK Government sanctions mean that any direct transfers are not permitted.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel admitted last month that the situation is having a considerable impact on the Blues’ planning for the upcoming summer window. He said: "[In a normal season], you are never fully sure but we would have some targets and we would have for sure contacted some players and found out about their situations. Of course, now our hands are tied. We can still have talks inside the building but we cannot act. The situation is not ideal.
"It would be challenging enough with a stable situation but we don't have it. Everybody is doing it for the first time, we try to show our commitment and our passion for it.
"This is for me very important to give this message: I am committed, I am looking forward and I am passionate about it. As soon as we can act, we will try to act and turn things around.”
