Contract stalemate sees River Plate youngster linked with Barcelona and Chelsea | OneFootball

The attack was one of the areas FC Barcelona reinforced most heavily during the last summer transfer window. Hansi Flick welcomed two new forwards, Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji, to bolster what was already one of Europe’s most fearsome attacking lines.

Yet, despite that depth, the Catalans continue to be linked with new offensive options. The latest name on their radar is Ian Subiabre, the 18-year-old River Plate winger whose contractual standoff is attracting strong attention across Europe.

According to a recent report from Soy del Millo (Via Chelsea News), both Barcelona and Chelsea are monitoring the Argentine talent, whose current deal runs until December 31, 2026. But his future at the Núñez-based club has become increasingly uncertain.

Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images

The Argentine club had prioritized renewing their young jewel amid growing foreign interest, but talks with Subiabre have stalled. The player has already been left out of recent matches against Atlético Tucumán and Palmeiras as he hasn’t agreed to a renewal yet.

The main sticking point is his release clause. River Plate want to raise it to around €100 million, while Subiabre’s entourage, led by Claudio Caniggia, is pushing for a much lower figure in the €35–40 million range.

This tug-of-war has created a major headache for River Plate president Jorge Brito and coach Marcelo Gallardo, who now face the prospect of losing one of their brightest prospects sooner than expected.

It remains to be seen how these matters develop, but keeping in view the quality Ian Subiabre has shown at this stage of his career, Barcelona fans would certainly be hoping to have him in their team in the coming months or years.