Chelsea Rumors: Blues Looking To Pair Lukaku With Barca Wonderkid Dubbed 'New Pogba'

Chelsea has set its sights on another potential signing as Romelu Lukaku closes in on his move to Stamford Bridge.

Inter Milan striker Lukaku has passed his medical and is now set to complete his £97.5 million ($135.1 million) move to Chelsea, various outlets reported, including Eurosport.

The Belgian’s return to Stamford Bridge is already a big leap for Thomas Tuchel’s side, but it appears that the Blues aren’t done yet with their transfers as they now track Barcelona wonderkid Ilaix Moriba, Manchester Evening News reported.

In the English Premier League, Chelsea and Manchester City are the clubs being linked to a possible transfer swoop for the 18-year-old, the report said.

Both the aforementioned clubs have already approached Barcelona “to see” if Moriba is worth making “an attractive proposal,” Spanish outlet Sport noted.

Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, on the other hand, sees Moriba as “a golden market opportunity,” per Barcelona insider and SBNation’s Reshad Rahman.

An earlier report said, Moriba has been demoted to the Barca B squad, and despite being one of the club’s breakout stars last season, the teenager has yet to cooperate in the renewal of his contract.

The said gesture is not being tolerated by Barcelona top brass, and club president Joan Laporta has now given Moriba an ultimatum.

“If you do not want to renew, we have other solutions,” Laporta said of Moriba’s situation.

Moriba’s current deal with Barcelona expires in summer 2022, and the Catalans want him to renew or they will be forced to make him available for sale to avoid losing him for nothing next year.

The narrative has been the same for weeks and Barca is now opting to sell the player before the transfer window closes.

For Moriba, he sees himself remaining a Barcelona player until the end of his career.

“I am living a dream and I hope it never ends,” Moriba said after Barcelona’s win over Getafe in April. “We depend on us and we have to go to all the games the same way.”

“There are good vibes in the [Barcelona] dressing room, that is reflected in the results you are seeing."

Moriba’s midfield attributes have earned him the moniker “New Paul Pogba.”

In his debut season with Barcelona’s first team, he played a total of 15 games across all competitions, registering one goal and two assists in the process.