Chelsea are eyeing up a double summer transfer swoop for Liam Delap and Dean Huijsen - and the Blues could get both deals done in order for them to feature at the Club World Cup. Enzo Maresca's side travel out to the United States for the inaugural FIFA tournament in June and the transfer window is set to open at the start of the month to give the Blues and Manchester City the chance to sign players to be involved.
The window will be open between Sunday, June 1, and Tuesday, June 10, due to an exceptional registration period for the expanded Club World Cup. It will open again on Monday, June 16, until Deadline Day on Monday, September 1. All Premier League clubs will be free to do business during the earlier window, not just Chelsea and City.
However, Chelsea could take advantage of the early window and get a couple of transfers over the line as they look to get prepared for the Club World Cup. According to The Mirror, the Blues are planning a fast start to their summer business, with Delap and Huijsen both identified as primary targets.
Ipswich striker Delap, 22, who has a £30million relegation clause, and Bournemouth centre-back Huijsen, 20, who has a £50m buyout clause, are players Chelsea want to sign.
Delap has been impressive in his debut Premier League season for Ipswich, scoring 12 goals in 34 matches. As for Huijsen, he has excelled for Bournemouth since his move from Juventus last summer and won the Player of the Match after netting against Arsenal on Saturday.
However, any move for Delap and Huijsen to ensure the duo can feature for Chelsea in the Club World Cup could spark a club-versus-country row. Both players are in line to play at the Under 21s European Championship in Slovakia for England and Spain respectively.
But if Chelsea push ahead with swoops for Delap and Huijsen, their nations would be powerless should the Blues then include either of them in their Club World Cup squad in June.
Under FIFA rules, it's not mandatory for clubs in the 32-team tournament to release their players for international duty. But football's lead governing body are encouraging Club World Cup participants to name their strongest possible squad, especially as there is a record £775million in prize money up for grabs.
32 sides from across the globe will compete to become the best team in the world, with Manchester City, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Porto the European representatives.
The tournament is set to start on Friday, June 13 and run for four weeks, with the final taking place on Sunday, July 13. FIFA have picked 12 venues to host, with matches predominately on the East Coast of the US.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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