Chelsea and Barcelona’s transfer race for €30m River Plate wonderkid heats up

Ian Subiabre is believed to have a €30m (£26.2m) release clause at River Plate (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea and Barcelona have both made contact with the representatives of River Plate wonderkid Ian Subiabre, according to reports.

The Blues were linked with Subiabre in the summer transfer window but an official offer was never submitted for the 18-year-old Argentine winger.

Subiabre, believed to have a €30m (£26.2m) release clause, is out of contract in December 2026 and the transfer race is heating up again.

According to Soy del Millo, Subiabre’s camp have recently received calls from Chelsea and Barcelona about a potential move in January.

Argentine club River Plate are hoping to secure a contract extension for Subiabre in order to raise his release clause to around €100m (£87.3m).

But Subiabre’s agents would prefer the player’s release clause to be no higher than €40m (£35m) so top European clubs don’t abandon a deal.

Subiabre has made 19 appearances for River Plate so far and has been capped eight times by Argentina U20s, scoring three goals for his country.

Chelsea were linked with Subiabre in the summer transfer window (Picture: Getty)

The winger can also be deployed as a forward and has named former Manchester City star Julian Alvarez as an inspiration for his style of play.

Chelsea have signed a number of South American wonderkids in recent seasons, including Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez.

Estevao arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer and has been thrown straight into Enzo Maresca’s first team.

Barcelona have also made contact with Subiabre’s camp (Picture: Getty)

But Subiabre may decide to follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, who left Argentine side Newell’s Old Boys to join Barcelona back in 2000.

What is Chelsea’s transfer strategy?

Chelsea’s transfer strategy in a nutshell since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over from Roman Abramovich in 2022 has been to buy young stars on lower wages and spread the payments over long contracts.

The Blues, who won the Conference League last term and Club World Cup this summer, have one of the youngest squads in the Premier League.

Speaking at a Financial Times Business of Football event earlier this year, Boehly said: ‘You always focus on how you keep something together for a very long time.

‘You identify a younger portfolio of players to be consistent and reliable over a long period of time – and that’s an option that’s valuable.

‘A seven-year contract is really a five-year contract as 90% of the time you have to make a decision or shoot yourself in the foot [with a player trying to run down their contract].

‘You either agree terms, or shoot yourself in the foot, or agree there are greener pastures out there.’

Comments