Maresca wants new signings this summerplaceholder image
Maresca wants new signings this summer | Getty Images
All the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Chelsea as they prepare for their second FIFA Club World Cup clash.
Chelsea are now preparing for their second FIFA Club World Cup clash, which takes place on Friday. The Blues take on Flamengo in what will be a tougher test, although LAFC did have a couple of good chances in the opener.
In the meantime, Chelsea are still pushing to improve their squad, albeit any signings won’t be able to officially join for a couple of weeks. as Enzo Maresca and his recruitment staff look to add new players, we have rounded up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Stamford Bridge.
Joao Pedro claim
Chelsea could yet make a move for Brighton striker Joao Pedro, according to one report. Newcastle United are reportedly set to add competition for Alexander Isak this summer, and Seagulls frontman Joao Pedro is said to be their main priority at a cost of around £60million.
But TalkSPORT have now reported that Newcastle fear that Chelsea could step in and hijack the deal. The Blues have been tipped to sign another striker despite already signing Liam Delap, and it looks as though the likes of Hugo Ekitike will cost too much, especially with Chelsea havng already spent £30million to land Delap.
Garnacho loal whispers
Chelsea could go back to Manchester United with a loan deal with an obligation to buy, this time for Alejandro Granacho. “Chelsea are also looking at new attacking midfielders who can play centrally as well as wide areas, there is a belief that a couple wingers could arrive still,” Simon Phillips wrote in his report on Substack. “Gittens is in the works, there is interest in Malick Fofana of Lyon, and the Alejandro Garnacho noise just will not go away.
“Until now, our sources had not heard too much on Garnacho other than tentative interest. However, we have been hearing more and more noise on this one throughout this week, and fresh info has also just come in on him. SPTC sources have heard that Chelsea have been discussing signing Garnacho on a loan to buy deal, just as they did with Jadon Sancho. Of course, both players are Manchester United players, so it would not be a deal that would be unfamiliar to either club and could suit both if the fee is right. I’m not sure if it would be a permanent buy with an option to send him back with a fee, or a straight loan with an option/obligation.
“There is nothing to suggest this is definitely what will happen, but it is something that has been discussed internally at Chelsea should they decide to go for Garnacho.”
Richards on Delap
Micah Richards has issued his verdict on Delap’s debut performance against LAFC this week. He said on the Rest is Football podcast: “I put a message in the group to say Delap’s struggling a bit, and two minutes later he got the assist! I thought Jackson was playing well, he’s obviously got to up his game. I’ve always been a big fan of Jackson, I think he can score more goals obviously, but his whole link up play was very, very good.
“Obviously you want to see Delap come on and score and assist, but a couple of his early touches I thought it looked a bit fast out there for him, but he grew into the game. After about 5 or 10 minutes, he was going into pockets, getting the ball, and even when he went wide, the delivery on the cross was outstanding. I just thought ‘I can see these combinations working really well next season. Impressive debut from Delap. Did you see his movement? There was a chance when he first came on. He went one way, didn’t get the ball, and then he curved his run, and I thought ‘oh yes, I like that’.”
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