Chelsea may already have their eyes on their next Arsenal transfer hijack. The Blues have already stolen one Gunners transfer target in Aston Villa and England superstar Morgan Rogers, who will now arrive at Stamford Bridge on a British-record £116million deal.
Xabi Alonso is being handed significant spending money this summer in a bid to give the Spaniard the tools he needs to get Chelsea back into the Champions League, and perhaps into the title conversation in the not too distant future. Chelsea's Rogers deal is a huge statement, but they are not done yet, and it's no secret what Alonso's next priority is.
Enzo Maresca warned Chelsea they needed a centre-back a year ago, and it seems Chelsea are finally willing to address the issue.
Chelsea now considering another Arsenal hijack
Xabi Alonso
Chelsea are on the lookout for a new centre-back, but they do not seem willing to pay the money Crystal Palace are asking for to sell Maxence Lacroix. Journalist Simon Johnson has reported that Chelsea are not willing to pay the £55million asking price for the France international, and they are said to be tracking Como star Jacobo Ramón as an alternative.
The Spanish youngster is reportedly a target of Arsenal's, so there could be a second Chelsea hijack in the offing, although it's unclear just how serious either side is about the signing at this stage.
Ramón impressed for Como last season after arriving from Real Madrid, making 32 league appearances to help the Italian side to Champions League qualification, and he is still only 21 years of age.
The Spain under-21s international is quickly building a big reputation, and clubs in the Premier League are clearly taking notice, even if there is the problem of Real Madrid having a buy-back clause, as they did with fellow Como star Nico Paz until Como bought them out.
What kind of player is Ramón?
Como coach Cesc Fabregas looks on vs AC Milan
While still young and developing, Ramón is attracting plenty of praise for his form in Italy. Squawka recently provided a report on him back in late January, which will help fans understand what type of player he is.
The report read: "Standing at 6ft5in, Ramon is a natural-born defender. And he uses his standing to good effect. Only five players have won more aerial duels than the 21-year-old (53) in Serie A this season. There are some concerns over his overall effectiveness in the air. A 64.6% success rate leaves room for improvement. However, time is on the centre-back’s side to develop this side to his game.
"Additionally, he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time to alleviate pressure on the Como goal. 69 clearances ranks 29th in Serie A this season. Como have the second-best defensive record for a reason. What’s important, though, is that Ramon is a front-foot defender, which is vital as Fabregas’ side dominate teams.
"Ramon’s size lends credence to the argument that he’s something of a no-nonsense defender. The youngster is anything but. Como have the highest possession average (60.8%) in Serie A this season. Fabregas needs his centre-backs to get the ball rolling from defence to dominate matches. Ramon abides by his manager’s demands. 974 passes is the 19th most in Serie A this season. A 91.1% success rate is the 14th best. He’s key to the way Como play. With an impressive range of passing, too, Ramon is just as important to the Italian side as Paz."
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The Red Devils are said to be leading their rivals in the bid to sign a defender