Transfer gossip: Chelsea to battle with Spurs for Witsel, Mail say

A round-up of the latest transfer speculation involving Chelsea…

Chelsea will compete with Tottenham for the signing of Zenit St Petersburg’s Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel, the Daily Mail claim, while The Sun reports that Loic Remy is likely to stay put. 

Witsel, 26, was touted for a move to Stamford Bridge during the summer transfer window and is again being linked with the Blues.

AC Milan are also said to be interested but Witsel is reportedly keen to move to England.

Meanwhile, there continues to be speculation over the futures of strikers Remy and Radamel Falcao, who have been unable to establish themselves as first-team players at the Bridge.

Remy has been told he is almost certainly staying, according to The Sun, while the Mirror say Falcao is wanted by MLS side Columbus Crew.

Chelsea are competing with Manchester United for the signing of Southampton star Sadio Mane, again according to the Mirror.

Mane, 23, is said to be keen to leave St Mary’s and has reportedly told Southampton he does not want to sign a new contract. His current deal expires in 2018.

Bayern Munich have also been linked with the Senegal forward, who apparently expects to stay until the end of the season.

‘Three-way battle’

The Mirror also claim Chelsea are in a ‘three-way battle’ with Manchester City and Juventus for the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Isco.

There is also more speculation over the future of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. The Evening Standard declare that Real will step up their apparent interest following Zinedine Zidane’s appointment as the Spanish club’s head coach.

And Lokomotiv Moscow striker Oumar Niasse has again been linked with a possible move to Chelsea, this time by the Guardian.

A number of Premier League clubs are said to be interested in the 25-year-old, who has been tipped to move for £15m.