Barcelona director was eyeing Chelsea duo for January before Flick pulled the plug

As reported a while ago, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has told the club not to sign a new pivot midfielder in the upcoming January transfer window.

Following the season-ending ACL injury to Marc Bernal very early in the campaign, there were speculations that the Blaugrana could enter the market for a replacement but the manager has pulled the plug on any such operation.

Flick believes that the current midfield options – Marc Casado, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and makeshift options like Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen – are capable of performing well and he sees Bernal as a generational talent who will come back strong from his injury.

Deco was eyeing Chelsea duo

Prior to Flick’s decision, though, Barcelona were keeping an eye out on potential midfield reinforcements for the winter.

And, as per a report from SPORT, the Blaugrana sporting director Deco had set his sights on two young talents from Chelsea as possible recruits.

Indeed, Deco was considering potential loan moves for Chelsea midfield duo of Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka, before Flick decided to continue betting on the talent at his disposal.

Carney Chukwuemeka has been on Barça’s radars in the past as well. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

As per the report, the Barcelona director is a big admirer of Lavia’s talents and tried to sign him last year as well, but only on loan, while Chelsea shelled out €60 million for his capture.

The midfielder spent almost the entire year out sidelined with injury and has failed to gain much prominence this year either, prompting Deco to explore a move.

Meanwhile, Chukwuemeka, too, has not been a prominent part of Chelsea’s plans and had been linked with Barça during the summer.

As per the report, the former Aston Villa starlet had offered himself to the Catalans back in the summer and now again heading into January. And while Deco was considering the possibility, Flick’s insistence on not wanting a midfield reinforcement ends any chance of a move.

Thus, despite Deco holding an interest in the 20-year-old Chelsea duo, any transfer in January seems to be out of the question.