Chelsea actually have former top transfer target to thank for bargain Marc Guiu signing

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Chelsea pulled off a remarkable piece of business by securing the signing of Marc Guiu for just £5m, and now it seems they have one of their former top targets to thank for the deal.

Guiu made a real impact for the Blues during their triumphant Conference League campaign, ending the group stage of the competition as the top scorer.

It looked as if he was ready for a Premier League loan move to Sunderland, and scored in one of his two appearances for the recently-promoted side before he was recalled to Stamford Bridge.

Guiu now looks like he will play an important role as a backup striker for the Blues for the 2025/26 season, after the Blues did not have to pay big money to bring him in last summer.

Chelsea have former transfer target Vitor Roque to thank for Marc Guiu signing

The youngster has now explained why he decided to depart Barcelona in the first place, and stated that the presence of Robert Lewandowski and former Chelsea transfer target Vitor Roque left him very little chance at making it at the La Liga giants.

He said to TV3: “Maybe I could have played a little more. Barça had other projects. There was Lewandowski and they signed Vitor Roque and I didn’t have much room there, but I would have liked Flick to have called me.”

After coming off the bench to feature against Liverpool, Guiu can now not play for another club this season, meaning he will remain with the first team squad for the rest of the campaign.

Guiu certainly didn’t end up costing the Blues as much as the Brazilian would have, and will feel as if they dodged a bullet based on how his career has panned out.

Roque’s career has not hit the heights promised

Chelsea were very keen on signing Roque throughout the 2023/24 campaign, with Mauricio Pochettino even meeting the player’s family.

However, he ended up moving to Barcelona, where he ended up playing just 16 games, scoring only twice.

He ended up being loaned to Real Betis, before Estevao Willian’s former side, Palmeiras, completed the permanent addition of the youngster after receiving the transfer fee from Chelsea.

The Blues have been more than keen to add young talents to their ranks, however it looks for now as if they won’t regret not securing the signing of Roque ahead of Barcelona.