Chelsea are expected to be one of the busiest Premier League clubs between now and the end of the summer transfer window. New co-owner and interim sporting director Todd Boehly has already spent around £160million on new arrivals to kickstart the Blues’ new era.
Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly have all arrived at Stamford Bridge this year. Evidence from their opening two Premier League fixtures proves that Chelsea can be title contenders if they make a couple more additions.
Express Sport looks at how the rest of the window could pan out.
Incomings
It is well established that head coach Thomas Tuchel would like to sign another defender and midfielder. They will go in with a third bid for Leicester’s Wesley Fofana, while the latter issue has become a more pressing necessity after N’Golo Kante suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
Wide-ranging reports suggest that Chelsea will make an offer for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The West Londoners could have a free run at the Dutchman after Manchester United pulled out of a deal.
United had a £72m offer accepted by the La Liga side but De Jong did not want to move to Old Trafford. The 25-year-old is, however, much more receptive to a switch to Chelsea, who can offer the Champions League football and the relative stability that United cannot.
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The bulk of Chelsea’s remaining business will likely be shaped around a younger profile of player. Boehly has spent around £40m on teenage talent, with Carney Chukwuemeka the headline arrival among a host of other young talents. Chukwuemeka joined in a £20m deal from Aston Villa, while Chelsea have also acquired the 18-year-old American goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina.
Inter Milan midfielder Cesare Casadei is widely expected to join the Blues in the coming days. The Italy youth international is part of the succession plan for when N’Golo Kante and Jorginho – who both have a year remaining on their contracts – eventually move on.
That might not be the only deal concluded with the Serie A side as Chelsea have also been linked with wing-back Denzel Dumfries. The Blues will continue to test Everton’s resolve for Anthony Gordon, having reportedly made a £45m bid for the England U21 international. The Toffees do not want to sell their prized asset.
Chelsea’s final task will be to sign a new forward. Barcelona and former Arsenal man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with a return to London.
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Outgoings
Trimming the wage bill has become trickier for Chelsea since FIFA imposed stricter loan rules. As of this season, clubs can now only loan out eight players to international clubs, excluding U21 players and those who are club-trained.
Michy Batshuayi and Ross Barkley both scored in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Coventry on Tuesday, as per the dedicated academy Twitter account Chelsea Youth. Batshuayi, Barkley and midfielder Billy Gilmour, who also played in the game, could all depart before the end of the transfer window though.
Gilmour is likelier to go on loan than depart permanently in a bid to overcome his disappointing year at relegated Norwich in 2021-22. Chelsea will surely listen to permanent proposals for Batshuayi and Barkley.
There is also understood to be loan interest in Callum Hudson-Odoi and Conor Gallagher. According to the Evening Standard, Boehly has ‘pleaded’ with the former not to seek a permanent departure.
Express Sport understands that Crystal Palace have a strong interest in re-signing Gallagher on loan. That might only be a possibility if Chelsea sign another midfielder before the end of the transfer window. Gallagher had been keen to force his way into Tuchel’s plans this summer but has played just eight minutes in Chelsea’s two Premier League fixtures.
Wing-back Marcos Alonso has not featured in the matchday squads for either match so far this term, with Tuchel revealing that the Spaniard is in talks with Barcelona. Emerson Palmieri, Kenedy and Ethan Ampadu have all been linked with departures as well ahead of the summer deadline.
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