Chelsea have got one over on Newcastleplaceholder image
Chelsea have got one over on Newcastle | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea are set to announce two transfer deals on Monday as they continue strengthening.
Chelsea are said to be closing in on a double deal that will be finalised on Monday, according to one report. The Blues are now preparing for their FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final clash with Palmeiras after being Benfica after extra-time on Saturday.
In the meantime, the club’s recruitment chiefs are hard at work on agreeing transfers, with Enzo Maresca wanting to improve his side at a number of positions this summer. Maresca wants another striker to add to the addition of Liam Delap, and he also needs another winger to add competition for Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto.
It looks as though both of those boxes will be ticked this week, with two new signings reportedly inbound. According to Fabrizio Romano, both Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Joao Pedro will be snapped up on Monday. He posted on X: “Chelsea to complete documents for João Pedro and Bynoe-Gittens on Monday… more signings will follow.”
Chelsea have been chasing Bynoe-Gittens for some time, and it now appears as though they have agreed to pay Borussia Dortmund’s asking price of £55million. Meanwhile, it looked as though Newcastle United were going to sign Joao Pedro, but the Blues have hijacked the deal, expected to pay £60million.
Sky Sports say Pedro will fly from his current location in Brazil to Philadelphia to link up with Chelsea, and the special registration window means he will be able to make his debut at the FIFA Club World Cup, although much will depend on his off-season fitness. The report adds that Maresca sees Pedro as a number nine who can play across the front line as needed. Bynoe-Gittens will not be eligible to play for Chelsea at the Club World Cup.
What’s next for Chelsea?
Chelsea have already bolstered their attack significantly with these two signings and the early capture of Delap, and so it’s likely they will now concentrate their efforts on landing a centre-back. A centre-back is their other clear need this summer as they look to shift some dead wood at the position.
The main options are seen as Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile, although the latter could make way, and so could Chalobah if he is not offered regular football.
Maresca has been complimentary of Chalobah, saying towards the end of the season: “I think since he has been back with us is doing very, very well. He is playing games, he is helping us. He defends when he needs to defend and he is also building from the back. We are very happy with Trev. I know that he can help us”
But after playing plenty of football across his Palace loan spell and Chelsea return last season, the English defender is not going to be content being a substitute option next season. It also remains to be seen what the Blues will do with Fofana and whether they are willing to remain patient amid the centre-back’s frustrating injury run.
A number of centre-backs have been linked this summer, and the main two have been Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande.
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