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Transfer gossip: Blues still being linked with Van Dijk

Some of the recent transfer speculation involving Chelsea…

The Mail are again suggesting that Chelsea will battle with Manchester City for the signing of Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutch centre-back, 25, is among the many defenders to have been linked with Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window, while City are also said to be keen on him.

The Mail say City are willing to wait until the summer to land Van Dijk but are “wary” of interest from Chelsea.

Southampton will apparently demand a transfer fee of £55m.


Bild reckon Blues want Hernandez

Chelsea are interested in Bayer Leverkusen’s former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, it is claimed.

German newspaper Bild has reported that the Blues are keen on the Mexican and that Leverkusen would listen to offers of around £34m.

It comes after West Ham were recently linked with Hernandez, whose representatives have been sounding out English clubs in recent weeks.


More speculation over Nainggolan and Vidal

The Daily Star declare that Chelsea will fail with a bid for Radja Nainggolan and then offer Bayern Munich £38.2m for Arturo Vidal.

The story is based on an Italian journalist claiming that the Blues plan to offer Roma around £51m for midfielder Nainggolan and that the bid will be rejected.

Both Nainggolan (pictured above) and Bayern Munich’s Vidal are among the host of players linked with Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window.


Kessie bid rejected, agent claims

Franck Kessie’s agent George Atangana has told The Guardian that Chelsea have had a bid for the Atalanta midfielder rejected.

The Blues are said to have offered around £21m for Ivory Coast international Kessie, 20, who has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs.

Atangana says he will meet Chelsea officials next week and also claims Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United want the player as well.

“We have a lot of interest from the Premier League – Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal,” he said.

“I cannot say at this stage how much he will cost but we are talking about one of the best young players in the world.

“But for us the most important thing is that the technical project is the right one for him. Franck is very young so we have to be very careful about his development.

“Chelsea are very interested and it is a great club but we must take our time to consider all the options.

“Now we are in January so he has to play at the African Cup of Nations for Ivory Coast, so I am not going to rush anything.”

The Telegraph, on the other hand, say Chelsea are interested in Kessie but have not made formal bid.


Blues linked with N’Zonzi

Chelsea are interested in signing Sevilla midfielder Steven N’Zonzi, according to Calciomercato.

Manchester City are also said to be keen on the 28-year-old, who previously played for Stoke and Blackburn.

It is claimed that Chelsea are reluctant to pay £25.5m release clause in order to sign the player.


Latest Courtois and James speculation


The Daily Mail have picked up on reports in Spain claiming that Chelsea could offer goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid in an exchange deal involving James Rodriguez.

The Colombian has been linked with the Blues before and during successive transfer windows despite no approach being made.

Now it is claimed that Courtois, who has long been linked with Real, might be offered to the La Liga club by Chelsea in an attempt to agree a swap deal.

The Daily Express, meanwhile, say Chelsea will make England keeper Joe Hart, currently on loan at Torino from Manchester City, their top target if Courtois joins Real in the summer.


Mikel reportedly in talks with two clubs


Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi is apparently in talks with Chinese club Shanghai SIPG and Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates.

Several European clubs have been linked with the Nigerian ahead of the transfer window.

But a source is said to have told Own Goal Nigeria: “The picture will become clear in the coming days.

“But I know for a fact that if Al-Ain or Shanghai SIPG can raise their offer to around £200,000 a week, £30,000 more than what they offered him initially, the deal will be as good as done

“He is in talks with Shanghai SIPG and Al-Ain of the UAE, they are the two clubs close to meeting his wage demands.

“No European team can pay him what he is demanding at the moment.”




This post was last modified on 30/12/2016

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