Robin Bairner
Chelsea, transfer news, Liam Delap, Tomas Araujo, Victor Osimhen
© IMAGO
All the latest Chelsea transfer news, rumours and gossip, with updates on Liam Delap and Victor Osimhen, while there is positive news over Marc Guehi as the fight for Tomas Araujo heats up.
Liam Delap interest confirmed
Chelsea’s interest in signing Liam Delap from Ipswich is genuine, with David Ornstein confirming that the Blues are tracking the former Manchester City striker.
However, a deal in January is unlikely to be done. Enzo Maresca’s side are tracking the centre-forward with a view to seeing if his long-term form can hold up in the Premier League after his impressive start to the season.
Manchester United are also suitors for the 21-year-old hitman, who has six goals in England’s top flight this season.
It is also stressed that Manchester City are likely to be in a position to derail the whole deal because there is probably a buy-back clause in the deal that took Delap to Ipswich in the first place.
Chelsea are said to be looking at five to ten players in this area of the pitch, so their options are certainly not restricted to Delap.
Liam Delap, Ipswich
© IMAGO - Liam Delap, Ipswich
Victor Osimhen latest
Chelsea will not return in January for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray for the season.
The Athletic confirms that the Blues are not plotting a move for any centre-forward during the forthcoming transfer window.
“Chelsea are not expecting to sign the Nigeria international or any other centre-forward in January and will look at the position with the close season in mind instead,” it confirms.
The only way that the Stamford Bridge side might revisit a deal is if they were to receive a giant bid for Christopher Nkunku that was deemed something they could not refuse. Enzo Maresca, however, has previously said that the France international will not be allowed to leave in January.
The other route to an Osimhen deal in January is a serious injury in the squad.
Chelsea face Man Utd competition for €60m Benfica star
Chelsea have learned that Man Utd are also seeking to sign Tomas Araujo from Benfica, The Sun reports.
The Blues are said to want more depth at centre-back, and the youngster fits the profile of player that has typically been signed at Stamford Bridge in recent months.
Araujo has a release fee of €100m but Chelsea and United are hopeful of landing him for a fraction of that figure.
Both Crystal Palace and PSG tried to move for the centre-back in the summer but did not meet Benfica’s demands – a warning for Chelsea if they try to sign him on a cut-price deal.
Tomas Araujo
© IMAGO - Tomas Araujo
Guehi keen on Chelsea return
Chelsea have received a boost with the news that Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi is eager to move back to Stamford Bridge, according to TeamTalk.
It is said that the former Blues academy player would be “extremely tempted” to move back to his formative club.
Guehi is said to have a strong relationship with several members of the Chelsea squad, which could help them land the 24-year-old.
Chelsea face a major challenge in getting Crystal Palace to accept a bid, however. They had an offer worth in the region of €96m (£80m) knocked back in the summer, but with 18 months left to run on his deal, time is starting to run out for the Eagles to maximise their profit from the England star.
SEVEN up for sale
The Blues will attempt to shed seven players from their ranks during 2025, The Athletic says.
Ben Chilwell, who is being monitored by Man Utd, and midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka are two players still at Stamford Bridge from the infamous summer ‘Bomb Squad’ who remain. These players will be the priority to move on.
Similarly, they will seek to close out deals for Raheem Sterling, Trevoh Chalobah, Armando Broja and David Datro Fofana, who are all on loan at various clubs.
Read more about: La Liga, Liga Portugal Bwin, Süper Lig, Premier League, Benfica, C. Palace, Chelsea, Galatasaray, Araujo Tomas, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Liam Delap, Marc Guéhi, Trevoh Chalobah, Victor Osimhen