Here are the latest football transfer rumours and our verdict
2 MIN READ
Mike Maignan (left) and Hugo Ekitike
Mike Maignan (left) and Hugo Ekitike
AFP
Chelsea have now made a formal enquiry for Hugo Ekitike! However, they are not prepared to meet Frankfurt's £84.3m valuation. (@SJohnsonSport & @TheAthleticFC)
Gulf News Verdict: Chelsea have already agreed terms with Ipswich to sign Liam Delap, but they are in the market for another attacker as well. The striker market is scarce, and whoever is available is young and expensive. There is a high possibility for this to happen, but the important point is that Frankfurt are good sellers who will demand the reported transfer fee. Can Chelsea bring that asking price down? We have to wait and see. Victor Osimhen, who is a proven winner, is available in the market with a £65M release clause. However, his age profile and wages don't fit into the new Chelsea project. Hugo Ekitike is a versatile forward who has already proved at Frankfurt that he can play alongside Omar Marmoush, who is now a Man City player, and also as a lone striker. Maresca's side has no issue agreeing to personal terms with the player, but will Frankfurt bring the price down?
What will happen to Nicolas Jackson? If the right offer comes, I think Chelsea will be ready to sell him if Ekitike and Delap arrive. But Telegraph's Matt Law reports that Chelsea expect Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson to compete for the out-and-out striker position, with Hugo Ekitike or another versatile forward providing a further option from deep or in a wide position.
Chelsea approach AC Milan to sign Mike Maignan as the new goalkeeper. Mike Maignan has still not signed a new contract at the club, and Chelsea are now aware of the situation. He's always been high on Chelsea's list, with clubs in talks; decision up to Milan (Fabrizio Romano)
Gulf News Verdict: Chelsea have many goalkeepers in their ranks, but none of them are elite, though some have the potential to be great. However, neither Sanchez nor Jorgensen could cement that spot in the finished season, so they are looking to bring in an elite, experienced keeper. Mike Maignan is the French starting goalkeeper who has made a big impact in Serie A wearing the AC Milan shirt. Will it happen? I am not sure. Chelsea will have to offload many keepers from their ranks before or after making this move. This could be all agent talk as well.
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— From code to kick-off: Gulf News’ Mohammed Shamsheer spends his weekdays in DevOps and weekends watching football — a proud Chelsea supporter through and through.