Transfer gossip: Chelsea eyeing defender Mere, Star claim
Some of the recent transfer speculation involving Chelsea.
Sporting Gijon’s Jorge Mere is the latest central defender to be linked with Chelsea.
The Daily Star claim Chelsea have been watching the Spain Under-21 international with a view to a potential summer move.
Valencia are also said to be keen on Mere, 19, who reportedly as a £25m release clause in his contract.
Belotti bid rejected, reports claim
Chelsea have failed with a £51m bid for Torino’s Italy striker Andrea Belotti, it is claimed.
The Mirror have picked up on Italian sports daily Tuttosport claiming that the Blues were knocked back after making an approach.
Belotti reportedly has an £85m buyout clause in his contract and Torino are said to be demanding that amount.
Zappacosta also linked
Torino full-back Davide Zappacosta is a transfer target for Chelsea this summer, Italian website calciomercato.com claim.
The 26-year-old Italy international is among a host of players Blues boss Antonio Conte is supposedly keen to sign.
Zappacosta has made 24 appearances in Serie A this season and has been discussing a new contract at Torino.
Fabregas keen to stay – Mirror
Cesc Fabregas is determined to remain at Chelsea, despite interest from Turkish club Besiktas, according to the Daily Mirror.
AC Milan have also been linked with the former Arsenal midfielder, who has struggled to hold down a regular first-team place at Stamford Bridge.
The Mirror, which also reports Chelsea’s interest in Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy, say Fabregas is settled in London and would rather stay.
Speculation over Hazard and Costa
Speculation continues over the futures of Chelsea duo Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.
Costa has been linked with a return to Spain and with a potential move to China, while Real Madrid continue to be tipped to make a move for Hazard this summer.
The Sun declare that both players are set to quit Stamford Bridge and that Chelsea will need to spend £200m in order to replace them.
Former Atletico Madrid striker Costa is said to be keen to leave because he is unhappy with the climate in England.
The Sun quote a source as saying: “Diego loves having barbecues. It is a major part of the social scene in places like Madrid where the weather is pretty much guaranteed.
“His house is not far from the Chelsea stadium and he doesn’t have a huge garden.
“Even though it has been nice for the past few days, sometimes you can go for more than a week without seeing the sun shine and it affects him.
“His friends back in Madrid are all enjoying Spring time and it makes him miss it even more.”
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror say Real are increasingly confident of landing Hazard.
The La Liga club are said to be ready to include Spain forward Alvaro Morata in a deal apparently likely to be worth in excess of £120m.
