Transfer gossip: Chelsea ‘on alert’ over Asensio, Sun claim
Some of the recent transfer speculation involving Chelsea…
The Sun claim Chelsea and Liverpool are “on red alert” after reports suggesting Real Madrid are prepared to sell Marco Asensio.
The newspaper has previously linked both clubs with the Spain international midfielder, who has long been touted for a move to the Premier League.
And after Spanish publication Marca reported that Real could accept offers of £100m, The Sun have again claimed Chelsea are keen on him.
Chelsea to target strikers – Sun
Chelsea want Inter’s Mauro Icardi or AC Milan’s Patrick Cutrone to replace Alvaro Morata, The Sun have also claimed.
The newspaper say Chelsea have lost patience with striker Morata and will look to make a signing when the transfer window reopens in January.
Icardi is said to be the club’s first-choice signing but it is claimed that Chelsea have been told he would cost £90m.
The Sun declare if a deal cannot be reached for Icardi then Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri “is ready to battle Tottenham” for Cutrone, who would apparently cost £25m.
The 20-year-old Cutrone, who has been linked with Spurs for some time, made his Italy debut in March.
Hazard speculation
Chelsea will open contract talks with Eden Hazard before the end of the month, according to the Daily Mail.
It comes amid ongoing speculation over the future of the Belgian, whose current deal at Stamford Bridge runs until 2020.
He recently spoke of his dilemma over whether to commit his long-term future to Chelsea by signing a new contract or leave the door open to a potential move to Real Madrid.
The Mail say Chelsea have been encouraged by Hazard seeming open to signing a new deal and that the club are hopeful he will accept an offer worth around £300,000 a week.
The Express claimed earlier this week that Hazard is ready to sign a new deal.
The Express declared that Hazard is “ready to accept Chelsea’s contract offer and commit his long-term future to the Blues” despite being linked with Real.
The story was based on one by Italian outlet Gazetta dello Sport, which claimed that Hazard is set to sign a new contract worth £300,000 a week.
Hammers eyeing Giroud, Mirror say
West Ham are again being linked with Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud.
The Hammers were linked with Giroud prior to his move to Chelsea from Arsenal last January.
And the Daily Mirror claim the east London club are considering a move for the Frenchman, whose Chelsea contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
No approach for Piatek, agent admits
There have been no offers for Krzysztof Piatek, the Polish striker recently linked with Chelsea, his agent has admitted.
The Express recently claimed that Sarri wants to sign Piatek from Italian club Genoa when the transfer window reopens in January.
The 23-year-old has scored 14 goals in 10 competitive matches, leading to speculation that he could be snapped up.
But the Express now reports that no approaches have been made for the Poland international, who is also supposedly wanted by a number of Italian clubs.
His agent Szymon Pacanowski is quoted as saying: “Many clubs have contacted us, but there has been no formal offer.
“Many clubs have contacted us over the last few weeks, but I won’t name them.”
Ramsey speculation continues
Chelsea remain among the clubs being linked with Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey.
The Sun say Everton are now in the race to sign the Wales international amid supposed interest from Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and a number of Italian clubs.
Ramsey’s contract at Arsenal is due to expire next summer and talks over a new deal have apparently been scrapped.
Speculation too over Ake buy-back clause
Manchester United and Tottenham want Nathan Ake but will have to wait to see if Chelsea take up an option to re-sign him from Bournemouth, the Daily Telegraph reports.
United and Spurs have both been linked with the Dutch defender, who was sold by Chelsea to Bournemouth in the summer of 2017.
The deal included an agreement enabling Chelsea to re-sign him for a fee reportedly in the region of £40m.
The Telegraph speculate that Chelsea could be in the market for a defender, given apparent doubts over David Luiz’s long-term future and the fact that Andreas Christensen and Gary Cahill have indicated they will seek moves if they are not back in the first team by January.
But the newspaper also reports that Chelsea have given no indication they plan to move for Ake, 23, and that he would have to agree to any return to Stamford Bridge.
However, the story has nevertheless led the Daily Express to declare that Chelsea are in “pole position” to sign Ake ahead of Spurs and United.
Ake counts as a home-grown player under Premier League rules.
Atletico Madrid linked with Fabregas
The Mail have picked up on reports linking Atletico Madrid with Cesc Fabregas.
AC Milan have also been linked with the Chelsea midfielder, whose contract expires this summer.
Fabregas has said he would like to sign a new deal and stay at the Bridge.
16/10/2018 @ 4:23 pm
Chelsea should renew Cesc contract for another year and negotiate downward Ake’s by back fee. £40m is too much,; how much was he sold to them in the first place and who are those bad businessnen who struck that sea ?