Chelsea Football Club has reportedly made a player-plus-cash offer to Barcelona for their defender Ronald Araujo, which includes England midfielder Conor Gallagher.
This move is part of Chelsea’s efforts to strengthen their team after spending over £1 billion since Todd Boehly took over in May 2022.
Despite the significant investment, the team has yet to show improvement on the field.
Chelsea has already signed several players this summer, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, and Tosin Adarabioyo.
However, they are still keen on acquiring Araujo, who has been valued by Barcelona at between €90m and €100m.
To sweeten the deal, Chelsea has offered €45 million plus Gallagher’s permanent services.
Gallagher, an England international and one of Chelsea’s captains, is reportedly seeking a new challenge after falling out of favor with the team.
His inclusion in the deal could be a strategic move by Chelsea to offset the cost of Araujo’s transfer.
Barcelona president Laporta and Deco are open to negotiating a deal, and Chelsea hopes to reach an agreement that would reduce the cost of the transfer.
The rumors of Chelsea’s interest in Araujo have been circulating in Spain, with some reports suggesting that the Blues have “increased their offer” for the Uruguayan international.
Araujo’s potential transfer has also sparked debate among football pundits, with former Germany international Didi Hamann expressing doubts about Gallagher’s future in the England team.
Hamann criticized England manager Gareth Southgate for targeting weaker players, including Gallagher, who was substituted off the field at halftime during their match against Slovenia.
Hamann believes that Gallagher’s absence from the team could be a blessing in disguise, as it would allow other players to step up and showcase their skills.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Ronald Araujo is a clear indication of their desire to strengthen their team and improve their performance on the field.
The inclusion of Conor Gallagher in the deal could be a strategic move to offset the cost of the transfer, and it remains to be seen whether the two teams will reach an agreement.
