Transfer Update - The latest

Transfer insider Dan McCarthy with an update on the latest happenings...

I’ll keep it efficient here, seeing as everyone would have seen the names I mention below once or twice already, yet I will clarify the latest on these potential moves…

Sergio Aguero - CF

Plenty of rumors flying around the Argentine forward as it’s confirmed he will be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season. Many reports are suggesting Chelsea are one of many clubs interest in Aguero’s services, especially as he’d be coming on a free which is welcome with all the financial difficulties many clubs are having.

Simon has heard similar rumours and it would make sense for Chelsea to entertain the idea, seeing as we are searching for a new number 9 and our more lucrative targets may aspire to be out of reach (more on that later). However, as maintained from my previous conversations with my sources, I am told Aguero to Chelsea is extremely unlikely and this would only be pursued if more lucrative options were unavailable.

Erling Haaland - CF

No need to touch too much on the background on this one, seeing as every man and his dog would have seen the rumours circulating this one. With that, everyone by now would have seen Haaland’s father and his agent Mino Raiola begin their world tour visiting the European powerhouses to gauge interest and respective capabilities of doing a deal for Erling Haaland this upcoming summer.

Alfie Haaland and Raiola were seen visiting FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, with England next on the agenda. According to a source of mine, Chelsea are scheduled to meet with Haaland’s entourage sometime in the coming days, despite rumours this was to be last week before the WBA game. With that said, we may find it difficult to know exactly when this is/was, as Chelsea traditionally do these meetings without much leaked (cite Cech/Lampard dealing with Havertz/Werner).

These meetings are not to talk wages/agent fees despite what is being reported. The idea is for the club to pitch their ideas/plan for Haaland in their respective projects, plus for team Haaland to gauge if a deal can be done financially before they consider the club a legitimate option. What we do know is Roman is a huge fan and has the financial means to make a deal happen, however, we now must wait and see if Haaland and his allies consider the Chelsea project an appealing one. Try to relax, this saga will be a long drawn out one without a doubt.

Romelu Lukaku (CF)

Another option for Chelsea Football Club, reported by us very early on and now confirmed by many legitimate sources is former player Romelu Lukaku, now of Inter Milan.

Lukaku spent time at Chelsea between 2011-2014, including loans to West Bromwich Albion and Everton and is known to remain a big fan of the club, idolising former Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba.

Lukaku was close to returning to the Bridge under current and former Chelsea head coach, Antonio Conte, only for Chelsea to instead sign Spaniard Alvaro Morata whilst Lukaku went to Manchester United.

Chelsea are certainly keeping tabs on this situation. However, I am also told confidently Lukaku is happy with life at Inter, where he is enjoying great success this year individually and with the team, as he aims to finish as the league’s top goal scorer, plus a Scudetto with Inter Milan growing closer.

Along with that, also mentioned confidently to me was the fact Inter Milan would use/play on the rift between Chelsea and Antonio Conte as negotiating power, which would only drive up what would already be a substantial fee to prize away their talisman. With that said, this deal seems difficult to do, yet not impossible.

Gabriel Menino (CDM)

So, according to reports out of Brazil and other places, a deal is in place and done for the young Brazilian starlet.

Wrong. No deal is in place, nor is one in the works to be as of yet. Yes, Chelsea have scouted the player extensively and are doing their due diligence on this, as many clubs across Europe are with this talent. Chelsea’s scouting network is extensive and thorough, yet no bid has gone in.

The comparison I used on our recent pod may help. Remember all those links/rumors/news to Declan Rice in the recent January window, and how close that deal was to being done? A reminder, no bid never went in, despite how “close” it was.

With that said, a bid/deal could be done here. However, it hasn’t as of yet.

Something else worth reporting today is Sky Italia claiming that Chelsea have put an offer on the table for AC Milan attacking midfielder, Hakan Calhanoglu.

The 27-year old is out of contract at the end of the season, although Milan do feel confident he will sign their offer on the table.

As Simon explained on our Podcast last week, and has written about here, free agents is something we expect to hear more about with Chelsea much more open to the idea of landing them this summer, largely due to the financial impact of the pandemic. Not directly to Chelsea, but in terms of we might not have such a large budget to spend if clubs cannot afford to buy our players.

We haven’t heard anything directly about Calhanoglu, and it seems an odd link (likely to be agent pushing offers), but it is worth keeping an eye on for the above reason.

Things to keep an eye on - Potential free agents (Alaba etc.) Center back options (still a club target, options are extensive as of now) and CDM options (Tuchel request)

On the outgoing side of things. Quickly, I am still told assertively, Christian Pulisic will not leave Chelsea this upcoming summer, despite rumours both parties are open to the idea. Christian certainly would like things to have gone better, injuries especially. However, Tuchel remains a fan of the American and the club see the benefits he brings. I personally believe it’s difficult to see him leaving this summer.

Finally, recent rumors that Tammy Abraham is unhappy/baffled with the lack of game time recently are true. It is too early to say that Tammy is definitely leaving at the summer, however, a change in his situation would need to occur for him to consider staying, let alone reignite contract talks to extend his stay in West London. Plenty of rumors ahead on this one, I wouldn’t get too excited about an Abraham/Rice swap deal either….

Things to keep an eye on here - Loan futures of Barkley/Bakayoko/Gallagher/Sarr/Ampadu. Also Olivier Giroud and Kepa’s potential exit, plus Kurt Zouma and a few more.

For another article, until next time…