Chelsea and Barcelona are two clubs who have rarely been far from the same breath this summer. Ousmane Dembele, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta - the duo have the pressure to deals and compete for transfers.
There is a necessity for Chelsea to complete some astute transfer business this summer, and the quicker the better as Thomas Tuchel endeavours to rebuild his squad ahead of the new season. The Blues have only agreed a fee for young Southampton goalkeeper Eddie Beach thus far, with many hoping for more.
The unknown leads to fears of Chelsea falling behind their rivals. While personal terms are agreed for a player like Kounde, the fact there is no clear bid made to Sevilla at this moment, leads to many onlookers to endure some trepidation about the status of the transfer window and the new ownership group.
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Recent reports of Barcelona making a move for the French defender have only added to this but it's difficult to see how the Blues are not in a better position. The Catalan club are already unable to register free transfers in Frank Kessie and Andreas Christensen but are reported to be eyeing an extravagant bid for Kounde, even after the player was revealed to be undergoing surgery earlier in the week. The defender is not the only costly transfer Barcelona appearing to be attempting, with Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha also linked with a move to the Nou Camp.
A year removed from losing Lionel Messi, many will question how Barcelona can make the financials work. With Xavi's stars still being pressured to take pay cuts, the club's socios voted on Thursday evening to allow president Joan Laporta and the Barcelona hierarchy to sell portions of Barca Licensing and Merchandising, and La Liga TV revenues.
While this is the only the beginning of the club tackling their debts, Laporta has billed it as an opportunity to be busy in the transfer market, with one journalist suggesting that people close to the club believe the transfer window will be something that doesn't even happen in 'career mode'.
Laporta said: “We want a Barca that can compete head to head with those state-owned clubs, or those clubs owned by billionaires. We want to compete with the strength of our brand and the strength of our members. We don’t want to be held back by those who put obstacles in our way.”
While not state-owned, Chelsea are moving from an owner who has been a benefactor of sorts, but their ambition of how to work in the transfer market to ensure they still compete seems very different to that of the Barcelona hierarchy.
Speaking to Bloomberg, new Blues owner Todd Boehly said: "Financial fair play is starting to get some teeth and that will limit ability to acquire players at any price. UEFA takes it seriously and will continue to take it seriously. [More teeth] means financial penalties and disqualification from sporting competitions.
"If you look at the models that are very successful, Liverpool is a great model. Liverpool generates a couple of hundred million more revenue than Chelsea and they generate earnings, so I think there is an opportunity to compete."
It's clear Chelsea want to work in a smart manner, and with a more long term vision than simply this summer. That no transfers have been completed yet for the men's first team is not a read flag. Boehly and co have been in position for less than three weeks and will be seeking to mould their way of working with what is already in place at the club. Opportunties have been take on the women's side, and as long as the right business is completed, that is what is important. To sign Kounde before the outcome of the operation on a longstanding issue and the end of the international break, would have been unwise. Dealing with Sevilla, knowing all of the information is the smart way to get the best value deal.
It does not mean the Blues won't spend money. Liverpool have proved that is possible by landing Darwin Nunez this summer. Extravagance and statement signings for the sake of it will not suffice, and as things stand, Chelsea seem in a stronger position to land a target like Kounde, and are perhaps more likely to do transfer business with Barcelona for other than players than to get into a bidding war.
