Transfer gossip: Chelsea linked with Butland and teenage keeper
A round-up of the latest transfer speculation involving Chelsea…
Stoke City’s England goalkeeper Jack Butland has been linked with Chelsea amid continued speculation over the futures of Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic.
Chelsea have also been linked with Yehvann Diouf – a 16-year-old keeper currently with French club Troyes.
The Daily Telegraph suggests both Courtois and Begovic are looking to leave Stamford Bridge, with Courtois said to be keen to join Real Madrid and Begovic reportedly unhappy at his lack of first-team action.
The newspaper speculates that Real could table a big-money bid for Courtois this summer if he impresses for Belgium during the European Championship.
So too does The Sun, which also suggests that Butland, who is currently out injured, has been lined up as a potential signing by the Blues.
The Sun on Sunday recently suggested another England keeper, Southampton’s Fraser Forster, was being targeted by Chelsea.
And on Tuesday, French publication L’Equipe reported that the highly-rated Diouf is attracting interest from Chelsea as well as Bayern Munich and Juventus.
‘Assuming all sorts of things’
Meanwhile, there is speculation that Branislav Ivanovic could be heading to Roma in an exchange deal involving Radja Nainggolan.
Reports in the Italian media that Roma are interested in signing Ivanovic this summer duly prompted claims there could be a swap deal agreed for midfielder Nainggolan, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea.
However, Roma’s general director Mauro Baldissoni has played down the significance of fellow director Walter Sabatini being seen outside the Bridge.
“Just because someone takes a photo while visiting Chelsea, people assume all sorts of things,” Italian media quoted Baldissoni as saying.
“He could have also visited Arsenal, Tottenham and other clubs to find out who is on the market and who isn’t.
“He was there with Mohamed Salah’s agent because we will be buying him outright this summer.”
There has also been speculation this week that Chelsea could offer Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Andreas Christensen to Roma on loan as part of a deal to sign Belgium international Nainggolan.
