Transfer gossip: Chelsea linked with Porto’s Brahimi

A round-up of the latest transfer speculation involving Chelsea…

Yacine Brahimi is the latest Porto player Chelsea are said to be keen on, while Paris St-Germain are interested in signing John Mikel Obi according to reports in the midfielder’s native Nigeria.

PSG’s Blaise Matuidi was recently linked with a potential move to Stamford Bridge as a replacement for Mikel, whose first-
team chances at Chelsea have been limited.

Now it is being claimed that Mikel could move to the French club if they decide to part with Matuidi.

Chelsea were recently linked with Ruben Neves because a Blues scout watched a Porto game – as is standard practice ahead of this week’s Champions League match between the two clubs.

Now it is suggested that Brahimi, 25, is a target and that Chelsea are competing with Arsenal to sign the Algerian.

A report by Italian publication Tuttomercatoweb, picked up by the Daily Express, claimed that Brahimi has a £44m release clause and that Chelsea are ready to pay that amount when the transfer window re-opens in January.