Transfer gossip: Chelsea tipped to beat Arsenal to defender deal

Some of the recent transfer speculation involving Chelsea…

Chelsea are set to beat Arsenal to the signing of Wolfsburg defender Ricardo Rodriguez, The Sun claim.

The left-back is among a host of players to have been linked with the Blues in recent months.

The Sun say Chelsea have made the first move to sign him and that boss Antonio Conte is hopeful of a £21m deal.

Chelsea are said to have held talks with Rodriguez’s agent, who has long been touting the player for a move to the Premier League.

Valencia reportedly want Mikel

The Independent say John Mikel Obi has agreed a deal in principle to join Valencia but that the move hinges on the future of Simone Zaza.

Nigerian midfielder Mikel, 29, has not featured under Conte this season and is expected to leave Chelsea this month after more than a decade at Stamford Bridge.

According to the Independent, Valencia want both Mikel and West Ham misfit Zaza but cannot sign both players because of Financial Fair Play restrictions.

Mikel is said to have agreed a deal during a meeting with Valencia’s sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch.

Vidal speculation

On Monday, The Sun declared that Arturo Vidal has hinted at a “sensational Blues transfer” after he ‘liked’ a post on Instagram.

The Bayern Munich midfielder reacted to a story linking him with a potential move to Chelsea.

Chilean Vidal previously played under Conte at Juventus and is one of several of the Italian’s former players to have been touted for a move to Stamford Bridge.