chelseaThe pursuit of Valentin Barko has been on the rise in recent weeks, and the latest update suggests the club are now at the finish line.

after Failing to land a midfielder in JanuaryThe Blues kept pressing. Reports earlier this month indicated they were making progress in talks with Strasbourg, and confidence is growing over a summer move.

However, precautions were still taken. Sources close to the situation stressed that a final agreement has not yet been reached.

That gap may have closed now.

Agreement reached as Chelsea make decisive move

spanish journalist Andres Onrubia Ramos There are now reports that Valentin Barco will play for Chelsea with full agreement.

According to him, the 21-year-old has agreed to a six-year contract with the Blues. argentina outlet gazetteHowever, report slightly different terms – they claim the midfielder is set to sign a five-year contract running until June 2031.

Transfer fee details are unclear at this stage. Still, it is expected to be significantly higher than the fee of around £8m (€9.4m) paid by Strasbourg to Brighton last summer.

Either way, the deal follows a strong transfer push from Chelsea after the international break, building on the groundwork already laid in the process.

Liam Rosenior’s influence has again been central. The Chelsea manager is said to have worked closely with Barco at Strasbourg played a decisive role In convincing the player to accept the move.

Chelsea have also presented a clear game plan. Barco has reportedly been assured that he will be a key part of the project, being seen as a potentially key figure in the team moving forward.

That promise appears to have made a difference.

From advanced negotiations to full agreement

This latest development marks a change from the previous update.

Argentina’s earlier claims Told that the talks are going well, but have not been completed yet. Despite Chelsea’s clear advantage due to the BLUCO structure linking the two clubs, there was discussion about the details still needing to be sorted out.

Now the tone has changed. The move is being presented as full consent rather than just termination.

Chelsea have been in a strong position throughout. His ownership relationship with Strasbourg has simplified negotiations, while Rosenior’s relationship with the player has added a personal layer to the deal.

what happens next

Valentin Barco is expected to join Chelsea in June after the end of the season.

If confirmed, it would complete a transfer story that has developed in clear stages. Initial interest turned into a failed attempt in January, followed by renewed efforts and now, apparently, a full agreement has been reached.

The final step is official confirmation. Until then, Chelsea’s pursuit of Barco appears to be almost complete.

🇵🇹 Exclusive: Maxi Araújo

⏩Tottenham and Chelsea are in contact
➡️ Source gave information @UllalIBT
➡️There is also further Premier League interesthttps://t.co/K17lRpjlUG #thfc #cfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 22 March 2026

In the January transfer window, Napoli’s interest in Wolves star Joao Gomes was quite clear.

The Italian side reached an agreement on personal terms with the player and his entourage. it was covered extensively sports witnessA summer move is being considered by the Partenopei.

Any deal in winter was always going to be complicated. Wolves had given up hope of remaining in the Premier League and had limited time to find a replacement.

It is believed that Rob Edwards’ side will need €40m to convince a summer sale. Napoli were not going to give up that amount of money in the middle of the season and saw him as a summer target.

More background on the potential deal is now emerging. Today’s Il Matino takes a closer look at Brazil.

Gomes’ Wolves contract is causing concern

Naples-based newspaper – via arianapoliExplain that Antonio Conte was desperate for the midfielder in January. Napoli faced a midfield injury crisis and looked to the 25-year-old as a solution to the problem.

The Italian giants’ interest in the player remains ‘very strong’ even on a summer deal. The midfielder is being closely monitored by Napoli, with sporting director Giovanni Manna showing a keen interest.

Gomes’ contract at Wolves is likely to present a challenge. It will run until 2030, which could lead to increased demand from AdWords for a potential sale in the summer. It could also attract other suitors and dash Napoli’s hopes.

Furthermore, Gomes would enjoy non-EU status in the current Napoli team. They signed two Brazilians in Alison Santos and Gioven in January.

Our take on Wolves’ Joao Gomes to Napoli

Signing the midfielder would be a classic Napoli deal. The Partenopei have sniffed out opportunistic Premier League deals for the likes of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, David Gilmour and Scott McTominay over the past few seasons. All of them have performed well.

Gomes could be similar and Wolves’ potential demotion could also help.

In such a situation, competition from other clubs could be harmful for Napoli. When it came to Zambo Anguilla, Gilmour and McTominay, the line up of contenders was much less frightening. It would be no surprise if Gomes is of interest to Atletico Madrid and Manchester United in the summer, as there have already been links.

Financially, Napoli will struggle to compete with those two clubs.