Chelsea have reportedly intensified their efforts to sign Lyon forward Bradley Barcola after being rejected by Michael Olise, who sensationally penned a new contract at Crystal Palace despite the Blues meeting his release clause. With Chelsea now pursuing Barcola, Lyon have made it clear that they want at least £42million for their starlet – higher than the fee Todd Boehly and co were prepared to pay for Olise – but they are open to a swap deal.
RMC Sport say Lyon are willing to do a cash-plus-player exchange to lower the price tag. That’s because they have had transfer restrictions imposed on them by French football watchdog DNCG. Express Sport looks at three players Chelsea can offer to sweeten their deal to sign the highly-rated French forward.
Noni Madueke
Lyon would likely want a player in the same mould as Barcola, a forward, in exchange and Noni Madueke may provide the perfect makeweight – although it is unlikely Chelsea would let their January signing leave on a permanent basis and the Ligue 1 side may have to be content with a loan deal.
The former PSV winger has been recovering from an injury in pre-season but was left on the bench during Chelsea’s opening Premier League game of the season against Liverpool, with Raheem Sterling and Carney Chukwuemeka preferred from the start and Mykhaylo Mudryk and Ian Maatsen off the bench, potentially indicating that Madueke is lower down in the pecking order and his short-term future could be elsewhere.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Another winger not involved by Pochettino against Liverpool was Callum Hudson-Odoi, as the 22-year-old is in talks with Fulham over a potential sale. However, without a deal completed he could be used in another capacity and Lyon would be able to sign the winger permanently should they wish to.
Hudson-Odoi struggled on loan at Bayer Leverkusen last season and has been unable to force his way into Pochettino’s plans upon returning to the club, but on his way out of Stamford Bridge he could do Chelsea a favour and leave for Lyon to lower Barcola’s transfer fee.
Trevoh Chalobah
If Lyon feel that they can cope without a forward addition from Chelsea and would prefer to strengthen their backline, Trevoh Chalobah could be their answer. He is currently out through injury but has shown he is capable at Premier League level and would be a stellar signing in exchange for Barcola.
With Chalobah competing with Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana once the latter is back from a long-term injury, he may decide that his best chance of first-team football is elsewhere and Lyon could provide him the perfect platform to shine.
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