Chelsea are working hard behind the scenes at the moment, with the club scouring the market for a new manager as well as new signings, and the latest to be linked is an Englishman shining in Italy.
The current focus, of course, will be attempting to attract a new manager to Stamford Bridge. Currently, Xabi Alonso looks as if he will be the favourite, but Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva are also favourites.
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However, Chelsea’s five sporting directors will be well aware that the club faces a pivotal transfer window to get this side back to a place where they can compete for Champions League qualification.
Certainly, without Europe, a whole host of players will have to leave, and some will want to. It means the turnover of players at Stamford Bridge will be big, and Bologna’s Jonathan Rowe has been targeted.
Chelsea considering Jonathan Rowe as Bologna star shines
After a fall-out with Adrien Rabiot at Marseille, Rowe was sold to Bologna for a fee just below £17m. It has proved to be a masterstroke for the Serie A side, with Rowe starring in his first season in Italian football.
The winger has now had a hand in 11 goals in 41 outings for Bologna, but his best form has come in the Europa League. Four goals and two assists came in Bologna’s run to the Europa League quarter-finals.
Bologna FC 1909 v Cagliari Calcio - Serie A
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Now, according to Saturday’s Gazzetta Dello Sport, Chelsea are interested in signing Rowe. The Blues are ready to commit to a £32m deal this summer, but there is an issue – a potential lack of European football.
It is claimed that Bologna will not want to lose the England U21 international, who came through the ranks at Norwich before joining Marseille. However, Rowe is said to be open to a return to England.
Jamie Gittens knows Rowe well, but he won’t want him signed
Chelsea already have five wingers at the club, with the inclusion of teenage sensation Jesse Derry. Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and Estevao are all options, as is the incoming Geovany Quenda.
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A wealth of talent. Adding another winger into the mix takes that number to seven and without Europe, obviously that is too bloated a number to cover just two positions. Players must be sold before signings.
Gittens has shared the field on three occasions with Rowe for England’s U21 side, including a massive 9-1 win over Serbia. Despite knowing Rowe, Gittens won’t want Chelsea to sign him – his place is under threat.
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