Chelsea have just intensified negotiations with Lyon over a deal for Bradley Barcola after missing out on Michael Olise.
That is according to Foot Mercato.
So, what is the situation involving Chelsea and Bradley Barcola? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, this makes a lot of sense for Chelsea.
Like Olise, Barcola usually operates on the right flank where he cuts inside to cause mayhem, while he is also a France Under-21 international like the Crystal Palace No.7 is.
Foot Mercato believe Chelsea have now stepped up their pursuit of the 20-year-old after Olise signed a new contract at Selhurst Park, with talks ongoing between Lyon and the Blues.
The French side are entertaining discussions with Chelsea, and have placed a €50m (£43m) price tag on Barcola.
That is only £8m more than Chelsea were ready to spend on Olise after triggering his £35m release clause, so with everything taken into consideration, the Lyon No.26 certainly seems like he was always the intended alternative to the Crystal Palace wonderkid.
Barcola is already a regular under Laurent Blanc at Lyon despite his age, and played the entire 90 minutes in their Ligue 1 opener as Todd Boehly’s Strasbourg recorded a 2-1 win.
Chelsea would be signing a huge talent in Bradley Barcola
If Chelsea can get this deal over the line, we are confident that many fans would forget all about the Olise drama very quickly.
The Lyon-born wonderkid is a remarkable forward, who is freakishly able to keep the ball under close control and breeze past opponents despite possessing a somewhat lanky, towering frame.
In terms of playing style, Barcola has admitted that he idolises Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has just left Chelsea for Marseille.
The French wonderkid told Onze Mondial: “My examples are Cristiano Ronaldo and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. I have almost the same game as him and above all the same style. I love watching Aubameyang’s videos. His burst of speed and quality of finish impresses me.”
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Chelsea attempt to sign another France Under-21 international after Olise rejected the Blues.
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