Transfer gossip: Chelsea plan Ramsey bid, Sunday Express say
A look at the stories involving Chelsea in Sunday’s newspapers…
Chelsea continue to be linked with Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey.
The Wales international has a year remaining on his contract and has been linked with Chelsea and more recently Liverpool while he negotiates a new deal at Arsenal.
The Sunday Express claim Chelsea are lining up a £35m pre-deadline bid for Ramsey in an attempt to pip Liverpool to his signing.
The newspaper claim Chelsea have targeted Ramsey after giving up on Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish – another player the Blues were supposedly keen on. Grealish is being tipped to join Tottenham.
Chelsea also continue to be linked with Manchester United forward Anthony Martial and a potential swap deal involving Willian.
The Sunday Mirror say both players are valued at £75m and that United will offer Chelsea Martial in exchange for Willian ahead of the deadline.
It comes despite Blues boss Maurizio Sarri declaring that he is “very confident” Willian will stay at Stamford Bridge – and 24 hours after the Mirror claimed the swap deal was mooted but that United decided against it.
The Sunday Mirror also claim Chelsea are in pole position to sign Wilfried Zaha because Tottenham have pulled out of the apparent race to sign him after Crystal Palace demanded £75m.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are stalling over a decision on whether to allow Tammy Abraham out on loan, because Sarri is unconvinced by strikers Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi, again according to the Sunday Mirror.
Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic is also among the host of players Chelsea have been linked with this summer – but the Mail on Sunday say the German club are refusing to sell him.
And the Sunday Times reports that Sarri will discuss Eden Hazard’s future on Monday and attempt to persuade him to sign a new contract rather than join Real Madrid.
The story appears to be based on Sarri recently insisting he would only hold talks with his players face-to-face when they return to the club after their summer break and the Italian subsequently revealing that Hazard has asked to return on Monday, having been scheduled to report for duty on Sunday.
