In his final post-match press conference following the conclusion of the La Liga season,
Villarreal manager Quique Setién openly acknowledged the possibility of Samuel
Chukwueze departing the club during the summer transfer window.
The Nigerian international, who is rumored to have played his last game for the Yellow
Submarine in their 2-2 draw with Atlético de Madrid, lasted 66 minutes on the La Cerámica turf before being substituted.
Fueling speculation about his potential departure, Chukwueze ventured to the center of the pitch after the game and applauded the Villarreal supporters, doing so without the
accompaniment of his teammates.
The talented winger, who won the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2015, has expressed his desire to play in the English Premier League and has also been linked with possible moves to the
French Ligue 1 and Italian Serie A.
Rumors suggest that Villarreal has offered Tottenham Hotspur the opportunity to sign
Chukwueze in a deal that would see Giovani Lo Celso, plus cash, moving in the opposite
direction.
When asked about the future of Chukwueze and Jackson (presumably a player from
Villarreal) at the club next season, Setién was quoted by El Periódico Mediterráneo saying, “I think of them as people, Jackson has been instrumental and a decisive player in this final stretch of the season. They will have to decide their future, but we do not hide the fact that they can leave. The same goes for Samu and anyone else.”
Villarreal has come to terms with the fact that they may need to cash in on Chukwueze
during the summer transfer window to avoid losing him for nothing when his contract expires at the end of the upcoming season. With this in mind, the club is open to offers and potential negotiations regarding the talented winger’s departure.
