Chelsea are “not” going to pay Barcelona midfielder Gavi’s release fee, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Reports in the Catalan media yesterday had suggested the Blues were considering triggering the teenager’s €50m (£42m) buyout clause but Romano says the player is close to signing a new contract with Barca:
Barcelona consider Gavi’s contract extension now at final stages. Positive meeting with his agent, new five year deal on the table and salary to be increased season after season. ⭐️🇪🇸 #FCB
Chelsea are not paying the clause, despite rumours. #CFC
More: https://t.co/IFVwGi55hy— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 24, 2021
In these situations, it is usually the player’s agent putting the transfer rumour out there in order to force his current club to meet their demands and it seems to have worked this time.
Gavi is an outstanding young player, and Chelsea would no doubt have been keeping tabs on the 17-year-old, but the midfielder came through the La Masia academy and he is a Barcelona man through and through.
It was, therefore, very unlikely that the Blues had any chance of securing his signature. The European champions will be in the market for another midfielder soon enough, though, with Saul Niguez not expected to stay on a permanent basis after clearly not impressing manager Thomas Tuchel.