Premier League side Chelsea are the frontrunners in signing 18-year-old centre-back Xavier Mbuyamba from FC Barcelona in the summer.
Xavier Mbuyamba joined the La Liga giants from Dutch side Maastricht last summer but he is yet to break into the senior side which is why he’s currently contemplating an exit, possibly to the English Premier League.
“Almost all major clubs in Europe have asked about Xavier,” the player’s agent Carlos Barros told Voetbal International, as reported by the Express.
“Real Madrid are also there, they are serious about their youth system, but that would, of course, be a sensitive switch. Juventus and Inter are interested, as are top clubs from Germany and England.
“Chelsea have the best papers. Of course, we discussed this extensively last year. Chelsea gave a fantastic presentation. There is a unique football atmosphere there.
“You immediately sit with the first-team players during lunch and the club has outlined a very ambitious plan for Xavier.
“They really think that in one to two years, he can be in the first team. Frank Lampard has of course already proven that he is not afraid to play with young players. Being in the starting line-up at Chelsea at the age of twenty would, of course, be great.”
Is Xavier Mbuyamba a sensible signing for Chelsea?
The player is rated highly in the Netherlands but he is clearly frustrated at the lack of playing time at Camp Nou.
The defender is eager to play more games for the senior side and so despite having three more years on his current deal, Mbuyamba’s agent is already looking for a new club.
Barcelona are not renewing the contract of Juvenil A defender Xavier Mbuyamba, the club have communicated it to the player. [sport] pic.twitter.com/zdwjp15NUO
— barcacentre (from 🏡) (@barcacentre) May 18, 2020
Chelsea have clearly impressed the 18-year-old but they will have to fight off a lot of competition if they wish to land him in the summer.
Also, the Blues are not known to be a club which gives regular first-team chances to their academy graduates and this one thing could very well work against Frank Lampard.
Thankfully, that image of the club has been steadily changing with the current Chelsea boss handing regular starts to youngsters like Mason Mount and Tomori this season.
