CARNEY CHUKWUEMEKA is reportedly being lined up for a shock summer transfer.
The Chelsea star has barely played this season after injuring his knee in the 3-1 defeat to West Ham in August.
Chukwuemeka, 20, joined the Blues from Aston Villa in a £20million deal in 2022.
He made just 27 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring two goals.
However, he appears to have done enough to catch the eye of one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Barcelona are preparing a move to revive their interest in the midfielder, according to talkSPORT.
The report claims that the La Liga giants were keen to sign Chukwuemeka before his move to Stamford Bridge.
The club are said to feel they can take advantage of his lack of playing time in England and the “uncertainty” at Chelsea.
It might be difficult to reward England U21 London as he has been a Blues supporter since childhood.
He insisted that when Chelsea came knocking while he was at Villa, he didn’t want to “waste any time”.
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He told the Telegraph: “Chelsea was the team I supported growing up and I told my dad [Charles] ‘Let’s do it’.”
“I didn’t want to waste time. I had just won the Under-19 Euros with England that summer and a week after they called and I only had one place I was going .”
A move to Barcelona could also be another stumbling block as playing time could be limited at the Camp Nou.
The club currently has many talented midfielders.
The list includes the likes of Gavi, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez, Ilkay Gundogan and Oriol Romeu.
Chelsea penalty chaos
MAURICIO POCHETTINO is tearing his hair out as he watches Chelsea stars battle for penalties again and again. Here are all their highlights
- CHELSEA 2-2 ARSENAL (October 23, 2023)
AIM Raheem Sterling immediately collects the ball to take Chelsea’s spot-kick before Cole Palmer approaches. Enzo Fernandez steps up to give the ball to Palmer, who sends David Raya the wrong way to score.
- CHELSEA 4 LEICESTER CITY 2 (March 17, 2024)
MISS Raheem Sterling wins a penalty and this time is handed the ball by Palmer. However, he shoots through the middle and sees his kick comfortably saved. Leicester later came back to 2-2 after 2-0 and Sterling was booed every time he touched the ball by some of the home crowd.
- CHELSEA 4 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 (April 4, 2024)
AIM Noni Madueke makes a daring attempt to take the ball away from Palmer after winning a 98th minute penalty with the Blues 3-2 up, but is pulled back by Trevoh Chalobah. Palmer sends Andre Onana the wrong way before scoring a winner two minutes later.
- CHELSEA 6 EVERTON 0 (April 15, 2024)
AIM Madueke collected the ball immediately after Chelsea were awarded a penalty to make it 4-0, but a furious Nicolas Jackson rushed to take the spot-kick and pushed the winger. Captain Conor Gallagher has to step in to give the ball to Palmer, who scores. Pochettino describes his team’s behavior as “like at school”.