Ugochukwu has signed a five-year deal with the Clarets. Picture: Burnley FCplaceholder image
Ugochukwu has signed a five-year deal with the Clarets. Picture: Burnley FC
Chelsea are a step closer to being able to pull off their next transfer after two key pieces of business.
Chelsea are a step closer to being able to pull off their next transfer after raising a significant chunk of cash. The Blues made a quick start to the summer transfer window, snapping up Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, but they have taken a much more measured approach since then.
Jorrel Hato has arrived to strengthen the back-line, but Chelsea have largely concentrated on sales over recent weeks as they head UEFA’s warning. UEFA fined Chelsea around £27million for their overspending, an the West London club were warned that they would receive a further fine of £52million if they don’t take a more responsible approach to transfers going forward.
There are a handful of players who Chelsea marked for exit due to the high level of competitiveness in their squad going into the new season, and two of those players were Lesley Ugochukwu and Armando Broja. The duo have both been snapped up by Premier League newcomers Burnley, who have sent a sizable chunk of cash to Stamford Bridge for their services.
Fabrizio Romano has posted on X: “Chelsea receive fee around £45m from Lesley Ugochukwu and Armando Broja permanent sales to Burnley. Broja sold at £20m, Lesley Ugochukwu sold at ~£25m.”
Meanwhile, Sky Sports News are reporting that Chelsea are hoping to agree a deal worth around £50million for their next transfer target, Xavi Simons. The RB Leipzig attacking midfielder is seen as a player who can compete with Cole Palmer in the number 10 role, while he can also play out wide, where Chelsea need more depth.
Simons is only 22 years of age, so he certainly fits Chelsea’s requirement of being a young player with space for growth, both in ability and value. Whether Leipzig will sell for £50million remains to be seen amid a reported asking price of £60million this summer, and their hand will be strengthened by the likely sale of Benjamin Sesko, who now looks likely to join Manchester United.
Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer said of that particular deal this week: “We won’t go into detail on that but when I say that several clubs have shown strong interest and have made approaches, it’s obvious what has happened.”
Chelsea should now have the financial space to pull off a deal for Simons, and there are more players who are likely to leave this summer, including Raheem Sterling, Carney Chukwuemeka and others.
Borussia Dortmund look to be the leading contenders for Chukwuemeka, while Sterling is attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs, reportedly available for a bargain price of £20million.
Elsewhere, Tyrique George and Romeo Lavia are also expected to leave the club, and Christopher Nkunku could be the player who raises the most money, although Chelsea will need to take a hit on their 2023 investment. Nicolas Jackson has also been linked with an exit, but the Blues will only entertain big offers for the striker, which means that transfer is far less likely than the others mentioned.
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