Chelsea turn attention to another Barcelona midfielder after missing out on Fermin Lopez – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are blessed with one of the most talented and productive academies in the world. La Masia has given the footballing world many incredible talents over the years and continues to do so for Hansi Flick’s team.

Understandably, interest from other top European clubs in Barcelona academy graduates is very high. This past summer, we saw several Premier League clubs linked with moves for the likes of Marc Casado and Fermin Lopez, including Chelsea.

According to Fichajes, the Blues have now turned their interest towards another Barcelona midfield gem, Marc Bernal. The 18-year-old defensive midfielder made his return to action after a year out with an ACL injury against Valencia last weekend.

He quickly impressed with his quality on the ball, playing a delightful pass to record the assist for Robert Lewandowski’s second and FC Barcelona’s sixth goal of the night. Enzo Maresca is said to be keen on adding the Spaniard to his ranks.

Chelsea are said to value Bernal’s versatility as a midfield option, and his technical ability and physical stature make him an ideal candidate for the Premier League. The London-based club will continue to monitor his progress in the coming weeks.

While there is no official offer on the table, the interest in Bernal is understandable. He has long been touted as one of La Masia’s biggest recent talents and has been deemed the heir apparent to Sergio Busquets’ role in the long run.

Chelsea’s interest in Bernal is unlikely to worry FC Barcelona unduly. Marc Bernal is Blaugrana through and through, and one senses that a Marc Guiu situation is unlikely to repeat itself if the Blues come calling. Let us wait and see whether the Blues actually submit an offer to sign the teenager and how it is received by the Catalan club.