Chelsea Rumors: Midfielder Dubbed 'New Paul Pogba' Joining Blues Closer To Reality

Chelsea could find itself landing a wantaway Barcelona starlet sooner rather than later.

From being a breakout star last season, Barca’s Ilaix Moriba has now become one of the most controversial players of the club.

The midfielder has been a hot subject of transfer rumors in recent times, and the narrative is that he hasn’t been keen on renewing his contract with the Catalans.

Like any other saga, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported that Moriba’s “soap opera could end soon” with Chelsea among his “main future” destinations.

The report said that Moriba’s situation is already considered “broken and unsustainable.” The Blues, meanwhile, are just waiting for a major turnaround as the current transfer window approaches its final days.

Barcelona, on the other hand, is not letting Moriba leave with ease as the report noted that either the 18-year-old “pays €20 million ($23.5 million) or he will stay.”

Moreover, the report added that Barca “has had enough” of the attitude of Moriba’s agents, who are accusing the club of making their client a subject of criticism.

Barca president Joan Laporta had earlier addressed Moriba’s situation and insisted that the youngster and his representatives’ attitude is not being tolerated by the club’s top brass.

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

On the pitch, Moriba has no issues and is in fact, considered as one of Barcelona’s future stars.

He has even earned the moniker “New Paul Pogba” due to the apparent similarity of his game to that of the Manchester United midfielder’s playstyle.

Moriba has yet to comment on the matter but he had previously insisted that he sees himself playing for Barcelona 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 are reflected in the results you are seeing."

Aside from Chelsea, an earlier report said Manchester City is also one of the clubs keeping tabs on Moriba in the English Premier League.

Both the aforementioned English clubs are said to have already approached Barca “to see” if Moriba is worth making “an attractive proposal.”

In Bundesliga, it was RB Leipzig that reportedly sees Moriba as “a golden market opportunity.”