Chelsea are expected to announce the signing of Argentina international Valentin Barco from Strasbourg in a deal worth €40 million (£34m), just days after the midfielder was involved in a fiery confrontation with England's Jude Bellingham during the World Cup semi-final.
Barco's World Cup Involvement and the Bellingham Clash
Barco was part of the Argentina squad that faced England in the semi-final of the World Cup last week. He managed just 19 minutes of action across the entire tournament, remaining on the bench during the victory over the Three Lions. As Argentina celebrated one of their goals, Barco ran past several England players, prompting a reaction from Bellingham after the final whistle.
Following the match, Bellingham was spotted watching Argentina's celebrations before making his way over to Barco. The Real Madrid star clipped Barco around the back of the head, leading to a heated confrontation with shoving and fierce words exchanged between the two players.
Deal Agreed with Strasbourg
It was reported back in May that Barco would sign for Chelsea after the London club agreed a €40 million (£34m) deal with Strasbourg. The Athletic has now revealed that Chelsea are on the verge of confirming the signing, with a formal announcement expected imminently.
Barco will now head off on a summer break having been part of the Argentina squad that reached the World Cup final. The confirmation of his transfer appears to be just around the corner.
Chelsea's Summer Transfer Activity
Barco's arrival follows Chelsea's earlier summer signings of Geovany Quenda and Marco Palestra. The Blues have also sealed a deal to bring Morgan Rogers to Stamford Bridge from Aston Villa in a £117 million transfer, beating Arsenal to the England international's signature.
Reports have also surfaced suggesting that England defender John Stones is on Chelsea's radar after the 32-year-old departed Manchester City as a free agent earlier this summer.
According to Sport Mark Wakefield of the Mirror, the news surrounding Barco comes amid a busy transfer window for Chelsea, with more additions expected in the days and weeks ahead.
