Barcelona weighing up a move for Juventus star who also has interests from Arsenal and Chelsea - Reports
Barcelona have weighed up a move for Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, who has also been linked to Premier League clubs Arsenal and Chelsea. The Blaugrana have been seeking an addition to their attacking output, and they have reportedly taken Chiesa into consideration.
Barca had notably been pushing to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Club Bilbao, with the winger's impressive performances coming to the limelight. He had a brilliant season for the Basque giants, scoring five goals and providing 11 assists in 31 La Liga games last season. He also scored twice and created a goal in Spain's run to win Euro 2024.
This stunning run of form saw Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveal the club's intent to make Williams a part of the squad. However, their hopes have since been crushed, with the young winger reportedly set to stay at Bilbao for another season.
This has seen the Bluagrana return to the drawing board to find another winger to reinforce their attack, and that is where Federico Chiesa comes in. The Juventus star scored nine goals and provided two assists in 33 Serie A matches for the Italian giants last season. However, Juventus would reportedly like to sell him and get his wages off their plate.
This has seen a number of big clubs, especially from England, turn towards Turin to take a look at the 26-year-old Italian winger. Chelsea and Arsenal have been linked to his services this summer, but Barcelona could potentially snatch this deal.
According to a report from Diario SPORT (via Barca Universal), the club is seriously considering a deal for the player. The deal could be a cheap one for the financially burdened club, with the Italian winger set to cost merely €14 million. However, with the Blaugrana looking to manage funds, his €6 million wage could be a potential obstacle.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick pleased with first La Liga win of the season
While financial struggles may impede Barcelona on the transfer market front, they will be pleased about the output on the pitch. The Blaugrana started off their season well, beating Valencia 2-1 at the Mestalla in their first La Liga game.
It was a moment to enjoy for Hansi Flick, who signed on to be the club's head coach after Xavi Hernandez was removed from the position. Speaking about the win, the German manager said (via Everything Barca):
"We knew how difficult it was going to be to play Valencia. Their first half was good, but we're happy with the three points ... We have to perform like we did in the second half. I'm satisfied with that. We're focusing on that."
Flick will be hoping for an impressive run at the helm of Barcelona. It will not be an easy task, though, with the manager looking to ensure results on the pitch while the club work on improving its financial situation.