Chelsea interested in Premier League loanee

Chelsea will hope to add the Europa Conference League to their trophy cabinet when they face Real Betis in the final in Wroclaw on Wednesday. 

The Blues secured qualification for next season’s Champions League with victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, cementing a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League table.

Enzo Maresca’s side now turn their attention to the Conference League, where they face Spanish side Betis in Poland and will be hoping to add the trophy to the Champions League and Europa League that they have already lifted twice each in the past decade.

Away from the action, though, it has emerged that Chelsea are interested in a full-back that has impressed in Ligue 1.

According to CaughtOffside, the West London outfit are keeping tabs on Valentín Barco, who has impressed for French side Strasbourg in recent months.

Barco has attracted interest from Chelsea (Photo: Icon Sport/Alamy)

The Argentine joined Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion in January, and has impressed in the months since.

Barco has featured as both a left-back and a central midfielder at times since moving to France, and the report claims that Chelsea have bee impressed with his performances for Strasbourg, who are under the same ownership as the Blues.

The 20-year-old joined the Seagulls in January 2024, and was sent on loan to Spanish side Sevilla last summer.

He returned to the south coast in January, though, before joining Strasbourg shortly before the mid-season transfer window closed.

Since his move, the versatile player has made 15 times for the French club across all competitions, providing two assists.

It is claimed that Chelsea are on the hunt for targets to bolster Maresca’s midfield this summer, and the London side are focussing on sourcing versatile players.

The report also highlights Barca’s ball retention and positional fluidity as attributes that have appealed to Maresca.