Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets is considered one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe, and according to reports, Chelsea are considering making a move for the Spanish international.
Busquets is another player to come up from the famed La Masia academy and has gone on to establish himself as a regular starter in the Barcelona lineup.
The 24-year-old is your typical modern-day screening midfielder, good on the tackle and particularly good on the ball, able to pick out the simple pass - although he has the ability to play the more expansive passes as well -- and let the forward players do the rest.
According to the Daily Mirror, Chelsea are looking at the possibility of bringing in Busquets to London, and the report further suggests Barcelona would be open to a sale.
However, the Spaniard will cost Chelsea upwards of £30 million ($48 million), and it will be interesting to see whether Roman Abramovich will be willing to put out such a big amount, with Chelsea also looking at big name strikers in January and/or in the summer.
While Busquets will not leave Barcelona in the next transfer window, he might be open to considering a move at the end of the season, particularly with Barcelona needing to come up with funds to bring in new players.
Barca are still in debt, and the funding for players like a Gareth Bale or Neymar can mainly be made by selling some of their players. With Alex Song arriving at the Camp Nou from Arsenal, the Spanish giants already have a readymade replacement for Busquets.
Abramovich might also be interested to bring in Busquets, as another factor to entice Pep Guardiola, who nurtured Busquets in the youth team, before helping him establish himself in the first team, to sign with the Blues at the end of the season.
However, having said that, Busquets is a Barcelona player through and through, and unless he is forced out, which is again unlikely, the chances of Chelsea agreeing a deal with Barca are pretty low.
Meanwhile, the Blues are also lining up a move for Gunners target Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, according to talkSPORT. The Montpellier captain is a versatile player, capable of playing in a central defensive position as well as a defensive midfielder, and was one of the few standout players for the French champions in the Champions League.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for the defender, with AC Milan also reportedly keeping a close eye. However, Chelsea will have the upper hand if they decide to make a move, owing to their financial clout.
