Sofyan Ambrabat appears to have dealt Chelsea and Manchester United a humiliating blow in the January transfer window. The 26-year-old was heavily linked with an exit from Fiorentina last month after impressing for Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar.
According to The New York Times, Todd Boehly personally negotiated with the Italian giants over a loan deal for Amrabat while talks were ongoing with Benfica for Enzo Fernandez. The west Londoners eventually wrapped up a deal to sign the Argentina international in the eleventh hour but a move to the Moroccan fell through.
It's said that Graham Potter was keen to further bolster his midfield options following the departure of Jorginho — and in the event that an agreement for Fernandez was not reached. The report states that the American billionaire considered Fiorentina's asking price 'unreasonable', with the Serie A outfit unwilling to offload their star-man on a permanent deal.
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The New York Times outline that Viola responded to Boehly's advances by questioning how he would feel if they approached Chelsea to sign a player 'on the cheap' with only a few hours left of the transfer window. Despite Fiorentina's resolve, a report from Spain has revealed that an agreement with the club would not have mattered anyway.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Amrabat only wanted to join Barcelona if he was to leave the Italian side. The report states that the Spanish giants submitted a loan fee bid of 'almost €6million (£5.3m) as a loan fee, but the offer was turned down.
Desperate for a move to Camp Nou, it's believed that Amrabat offered to play for Barcelona for free despite bids from Chelsea and Manchester United. He reportedly proposed to give the salary he received in Catalonia to Fiorentina.
A move failed to materialise but, with the Moroccan's deal in Italy set to expire in 2024, he could be available for a cut-price fee in the summer. With eight new faces at Cobham training ground, Potter has admitted that there will be 'frustration' among the Blues squad due to increased competition for game time.
"I think challenge is the right word but I’m not complaining about it," said the Chelsea boss. "It’s exciting and a test for me, of course, and the staff. But it’s an exciting one.
"We’ve got a lot of really good players and we have to create an environment where there is healthy competition and players can push each other. We have to understand that there will be frustration at times because only eleven can play, but that is how it is.
"We have a lot of important games and we have to improve our results. So it’s about playing, supporting the team, and being ready."
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