£78m double transfer move from Barcelona for two Chelsea players has caused a disagreement between Hansi Flick and Deco

According to the Barcelona-based publication *Sport*, the La Liga team is looking to acquire Chelsea players Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka in January to bolster their midfield. Deco is particularly keen on Lavia, who he missed out on when Chelsea signed the Belgian from Southampton in August 2023. He also sees a chance to negotiate for Chukwuemeka, given that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has not been utilizing the England U21 international.

However, not everyone at Barcelona is on board with this strategy. *Sport* reports that Hansi Flick prefers to develop talent from Barcelona’s La Masia academy instead of pursuing these players. One young prospect, 17-year-old Marc Bernal, showed significant promise early in the season but has now suffered a torn ACL, requiring surgery that will keep him out until the 2025-26 season.

Barcelona has several other talented young midfielders in their youth system, and Flick is eager to provide them with playing time. He believes that promoting these players would not only garner fan support but also help the club conserve funds for other transfer options.

Flick faces a midfield dilemma

Deco’s interest in potential midfield reinforcements for Barcelona is understandable, especially considering recent setbacks. Ilkay Gundogan returned to Manchester City in the summer, and important players like Marc Bernal, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo are currently injured. Furthermore, there is ongoing speculation about Frenkie de Jong possibly leaving the club next summer.

Deco seems to think Chelsea isn’t maximizing Lavia and Chukwuemeka’s potential. Lavia has been hampered by injuries for much of his time at Chelsea, while Maresca seems willing to let Chukwuemeka leave. Although Chelsea has had some successful transfers, like Cole Palmer, others, including Lavia and Chukwuemeka, have not gone as expected.

If Chelsea were to let either player go, they would likely incur a financial loss. Lavia was brought in for an initial £53 million, potentially rising to £58 million, while Chukwuemeka cost £20 million from Aston Villa.

Given Flick’s strong preference for nurturing La Masia talent, it appears unlikely that Barcelona’s board would support Deco’s pursuit of these players. Meanwhile, Chelsea is hopeful that Lavia can start showcasing his abilities now that he’s recovered from a hamstring injury, though Chukwuemeka’s future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain.