Gossip: Blues linked with Sevilla wide-man, Sunderland tipped to move for Sandro

A round-up of the latest transfer speculation involving the area’s clubs…

Sevilla wide-man Yevhen Konoplyanka is the latest player to be linked with Chelsea as a result of Jose Mourinho’s recent trip to watch Ukraine play Spain.

There has been speculation about who the Blues boss was in Kiev to see, with Andriy Yarmolenko and Spain players Isco, Nolito and Thiago Alcantara linked with potential moves to Stamford Bridge in the last week.

Now the Mail reports that Konoplyanka, 26, is of interest. It comes after Mircea Lucescu, the manager of Shakhtar Donestsk, said he had spoken to Mourinho at the match.

Lucescu has been quoted by the Ukrainian media as saying: “Mourinho is interested in Yevhen Konoplyanka. I was at Ukraine vs Spain with Mourinho and he is interested in some players.”

The Mail also claims that Liverpool and Stoke City are interested in Konoplyanka as well.

The Sun on Sunday, meanwhile, claims Chelsea are keen on Valencia striker Paco Alcacer and that Mourinho wants to pay as much as £50m for the 22-year-old.

The Sunday People says recently-appointed Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce wants to sign QPR midfielder Sandro when the transfer window reopens in January.

Allardyce is also said to be keen on Charlie Austin. The People reckons Austin will reject any move in January and instead leave Rangers when his contract ends next summer.