Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen to Barcelona?

The word on Las Ramblas is that Barcelona are in the market for a central defender and have made a formal bid for Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen.

The 22-year-old Dane has found opportunities hard to come by under Maurizio Sarri and has been restricted largely to Europa League and Carabao Cup duty, but with Barça’s Samuel Umtiti sidelined, the Spanish side may need some back-up.

While confusion reigns over the seriousness of Frenchman’s knee injury, his manager doesn’t appear too concerned. “We want four centre-backs who can play,” he said.

“Umtiti could recover and that would be great news for us and would mean that we would have four centre-backs for the rest of the season, although three are left-footed. We’ll see what happens but I’m happy to manage with what I have.”

Having long been linked with a reunion with his former boss Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, Christian Pulisic could leave Borussia Dortmund for Chelsea instead.

The Stamford Bridge side are reported to be in negotiations with the German club over a summer move for the American midfielder valued at £60m. Sarri has also taken a shine to Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson and may prompt his Chelsea overlords to make an approach in January.

Arsenal like the cut of Cristian Pavón’s jib, but will have to shell out up to £40m to Boca Juniors for the 22-year-old winger. The club have also been offered Barcelona outcast Denis Suárez for what is being reported as “a cut-price £14m deal”.

Having previously played under Unai Emery while on loan at Sevilla, Suárez may have an admirer in the Arsenal dugout.