Chelsea is in discussions to sign Barcelona’s young striker, Marc Guiu. Sources tell ESPN that while Chelsea is prepared to meet Guiu’s €6 million ($5 million) release clause, Barcelona may still attempt to retain him.
Chelsea is leading the race for Guiu, who is 18, and has already held positive talks with him. The London club plans to integrate him into the first team rather than loan him out, and they are waiting for his decision, expected this week.
Guiu has had a breakthrough season at Barcelona, scoring 23 seconds into his first-team debut in a match against Athletic Club and netting again in a Champions League game against Antwerp. Despite these successes, he spent much of the season with Barcelona’s B team, where he scored six goals in 16 appearances.
Guiu has been with Barcelona for 11 years, coming up through their academy, La Masia. Club sources highlight his unique attributes as a tall, traditional No. 9, which are rare in their academy. Some within Barcelona believe it was a mistake to expose Guiu to the first team without securing a longer contract with a higher release clause.
Ratcliffe Admits Uncertainty Over Manchester United Women’s Team Plans
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has acknowledged that plans for Manchester United’s women’s team remain uncertain after a challenging season, despite their FA Cup victory.
United’s women’s team won their first major trophy with a 4-0 win over Tottenham but finished fifth in the Women’s Super League, their lowest position since their promotion in 2019. Ratcliffe praised the FA Cup win but admitted that the club’s focus has been on resolving issues with the men’s team.
“We haven’t gotten into that level of detail with the women’s team yet,” Ratcliffe told Bloomberg, emphasizing that addressing the men’s team problems has taken priority.
The lack of a clear plan for the women’s team has raised concerns among fans and players. Some players are hesitant to renew or sign contracts due to the uncertainty about the team’s direction. United ended the season 20 points behind champions Chelsea and exited the Champions League early after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the qualifying round.
Mary Earps, United’s high-profile goalkeeper, is one of several players whose future with the club is in doubt. Earps has requested clarity on the club’s plans before making a decision about her contract. Similarly, captain Katie Zelem and others are considering their options, with some players linked to moves abroad.
