Transfer gossip: Chelsea close to £15m defender deal, Sunday Mirror say
Some of the recent transfer speculation involving Chelsea.
Chelsea are close to signing Toulouse’s France Under-21 defender Issa Diop, according to the Sunday Mirror.
The newspaper claims the Blues are negotiating a deal to sign Diop for £15m.
The 20-year-old centre-back has impressed for Toulouse and been linked with a number of clubs in recent months.
Speculation continues over Lukaku and Sanchez
The Daily Telegraph say Chelsea are lining up bids for Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku after cooling their supposed interest in Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.
Chelsea continue to be linked with Sanchez amid speculation over the Arsenal forward’s future.
Sanchez, whose contract is due to expire in 2018, has not signed a new deal and has been tipped to leave the Emirates Stadium.
The Telegraph say signing Sanchez is a priority for Chelsea and that the Blues “are also at the front of the queue of clubs interested in Lukaku”.
Former Chelsea striker Lukaku is reported to have told Everton he will not sign a new contract.
Morata, meanwhile, has been touted for a move to England, with Real recently reported to be keen to offer him in a swap deal involving Eden Hazard.
The Telegraph say Chelsea would not be interested in such a deal and expect Hazard to stay.
Van Dijk linked again
The Daily Mirror claim Chelsea believe they have beaten Manchester City in a £50m race to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton.
The newspaper say the Blues and a number of other clubs, including City and Liverpool, are vying to sign the Dutch defender this summer.
Chelsea are said to be confident of clinching a deal to take him to Stamford Bridge.
Blues tipped to loan out Loftus-Cheek
Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks likely to leave Chelsea on loan next season with Stoke and Brighton interested in the midfielder, the Daily Mail say.
Both clubs were keen to sign Loftus-Cheek, 21, on loan during the January transfer window but Blues boss Antonio Conte opted to keep him at the Bridge.
The Mail suggest a permanent move is unlikely because of his wages – reported to be more than £50,000 a week – and Chelsea’s reluctance to lose one of their most highly-rated youngsters.
Blues to target Toljan, Sun say
Chelsea are set to make a move for Hoffenheim wing-back Jeremy Toljan, The Sun claim.
The Germany Under-21 international’s contract is due to expire in 2018 and a number of European clubs have been linked with him.
The Sun reckon Toljan, 22, first came to Conte’s attention when the Chelsea boss was in charge at Juventus.
Juve, Napoli and Bayern Munich are also said to be currently showing an interest ahead of the summer transfer window.
Gilmour deal reportedly agreed
Glasgow Rangers have agreed a deal in principle for youngster Billy Gilmour to join Chelsea but believe they can still persuade him to stay, according to the Scotsman newspaper.
Chelsea are said to have agreed a £600,000 fee for the 15-year-old midfielder, who is regarded as one of Scotland’s best prospects.
Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson is quoted as saying: “We would love Billy Gilmour to stay but we need to protect our position and do the sensible thing.
“If he goes in the summer without a deal being agreed then he leaves only for a compensation amount.
“That would be a hell of a lot less than if we had a fee agreed beforehand. We have protected our position on that side of things but we’d like Billy to stay at the club.”
