Chelsea Rumours Archive December 22 2013

22 Dec 2013 16:49:08
Any more on that list ed?

{Ed002's Note - See below.}

21 Dec 2013 19:13:57
Hey Ed! so how about that list of targets if you please of course. Hope it isn't too much of a bother. Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - See below.}

22 Dec 2013 13:02:03
Hey Ed!
Any chance of you being able to do that list of possible ins and outs in January, obviously if your busy then don't worry, but I think we would all appreciate it and it would answer a lot of our questions.

Cheers

{Ed002's Note - Probably incomplete, but:

Wolfsburg winger Julian Brandt has turned down a contract extension from the club. Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund all showed interest with Chelsea possibly offering a player in part exchange. Will move to Bayer Leverkusen in Janauary.

Chelsea, Dortmund and Monaco are interested in Diego Costa but there will be concerns over leaving Spain in January. Arsenal are keeping a watching brief.

There have been offers and enquiries for Draxler. Both Milan clubs, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea have enquired at one level or another about Draxler - each has met a "not for sale" barrier. I don't really expect a move this coming January but something involving D Bruyne may well help if Chelsea sustain a summer interest.

Arsenal, Real Madrid and PSG would all like to strike a deal with Milan at some point but El Shaarawy is generally happy where he is and Milan have no intention of selling unless a very significant offer is made. Those quoting him not playing might want to consider his injuries. Previous interest from Monaco and Spurs remains unconfirmed and Napoli dropped out of the running over the summer when they signed Callejon, as did Manchester City when they signed Jovetic. Do not be surprised to see an offer from Dortmund or just possibly Chelsea or even a loan move to Torino in January - but don't hold your breath.

There is a good chance that Inter Milan's Fredy Guarin will move to Chelsea in January.

It looked like Gundogan would be sold this past summer and there was interest from Rubin Kazan and Manchester City. However, with Goetze going a season before expected, Dortmund were always going to look to keep the player and are looking to negotiate a new deal with him. It had been suggested that Manchester United might try and strike a deal for the player this summer that is not activated until next summer - that always seemed unlikely to me. Both Barcelona and Arsenal spoke with his agent but made no approach to Dortmund. Enquiries to his club have been made by Chelsea and Real Madrid - but don't hold your breath.

Chelsea remain interested in Imbula but Marseille are keen to hold on to the player through to the summer.

Barcelona have held talks about Koke as have Chelsea. Manchester United maintain an interest and I am told that Manchester City and Bayern Munich have also had Koke watched recently. However, chances of a move in January must be slim at best and a move to Chelsea unlikely.

Inter Milan rejected an approach from Chelsea for left back Juan Jesus - Chelsea may return to see if a deal can be done as early as January.
Chelsea spoke to Verona in the summer about buying Jorginho and loaning him back for a year but he will be very much a squad type player. Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester City and Crystal Palace have also enquired, but like Chelsea, most would only see him as a squad player. Liverpool still seem to be keeping a watching brief over Jorginho, rather like that of Fiorentina, but no formal approach or offers have been made. There is unconfirmed interest from Arsenal.

Nothing will happen with Khedira in January.

Dortmund and Lewandowski were unable to reach agreement over a new deal and they probably won't now. Whilst there is no agreement in place for him to join any other club, it is clear that there has been interest from Napoli and Manchester United and some interest from Bayern Munich, who Dortmund would prefer not to sell to but the player would like to join. The player was keen to run down his contract and move to Munich at the end of the season, but he may not be a player Bayern Munich are still interested in. Real Madrid are looking to move for a striker in January and could leap to the front of the queue with a decent bid, the alternative may be Chelsea who tried quite hard to strike a deal in the summer. Arsenal were represented at a game late last season in Stuttgart and I suspect that since then Lewandowski was of interest. I would not hold your breath.

Porto are prepared to cash in on Jackson Martinez with varying degrees of interest from Napoli, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, Spurs, Galatasaray, Juventus and Barcelona in recent months. However, whilst Porto will seek his full release clause of 40M euro but would likely need to settle for less (€36M for want of a number). Two bids from Juventus were turned down and Milan baulked at the asking price. This has left Napoli who have spoken with Porto and the player and have "broadly" struck a deal twice - but have struggling to get the detail finalised - and perhaps Spurs who would need to match the Napoli deal. Whilst certain parties at Chelsea would like to make a move for the player, someone very influential remains unconvinced.

Dortmund, Real Madrid, Napoli, and Chelsea are interested in Matic - but not at the given fee. Manchester United have had the player watched on several occasions but would likely baulk at the fee being asked. A move in Jaunuary is possible as Benfica are looking for some income - but be clear it is possible not probable. I suspect Dortmund may push if something were possible in January.

Napoli, Juventus, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid would like to take Matuidi for free when his contract expires at the end of June 2014 - but I suspect either a new deal will be signed once his old and new agent stop bickering, or that a decent sized bid will be made to take him to London or Naples in January.

Martin Montoya has been subject to rejected offers from Napoli and a loan offer from Monaco who opted for Tavares instead. Arsenal and Inter made enquiries over the summer but Barcelona have made it clear they do not wish to sell him. Whilst contract talks with Barcelona are at a standstill because he is asking for guarantees they cannot provide, the interest of Arsenal and Napoli remains and interest of Chelsea was recently declared when another player was being discussed. His agent has confirmed he is aware of interest from other clubs including Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04. Inter may also be interested. I rather think he will stay where he is.

I think it unlikely that Alberto Moreno will be sold in the January transfer window. The full release clause for Spanish clubs is being asked by Sevilla and that has so far put off interest from Chelsea, Spurs and Real Madrid. Manchester United may well be one of the clubs that has also had him looked at.

PSG, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, and, in Italy, AC Milan, have shown an interest in Pogba. Chelsea made a bid for him before he left Old Trafford and would be interested at the right price. Juventus are looking toward a new deal - I don't see a move in January unless PSG put in a very significant bid.

The long term interest in Rakitic is from Lazio where he was expected to move in the summer. Personally I do not see him moving in January but Chelsea, Manchester United, Lazio and perhaps Liverpool would be interested if he were availale at a sensible price.

Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia was a player interesting Spurs and Juventus in the summer. Chelsea and Napoli have both shown a recent interest in the player and there is a thought that Manchester United could move their attention from Garay to him.

Chelsea, Juventus, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal showed an interest in Marco Reus before his return to Dortmund last year. Recent tentative approaches made by Chelsea and Manchester City have resulted in a "not for sale" response regardless of their being a release clause in his contract. Manchester City are likely to push again as Dortmund are still looking to Dzeko as a possible replacement for Lewandowski and will look to ease a deal through by offering favourable terms on the transfer or a contribution to his salary, but Reus is keen to stay where he is for now.

Barcelona need to raise some funds through sales as they are still looking to strengthen in several areas and will also be bringing players through (like Tello) that have been getting experience in the B team. They do accept some of the B side (e.g. Deulofeu and Roberto) have attracted interest from elsewhere and could be let go but many would be reluctant to move on without an assurance of first team football. Like Deulofeu who is on loan at Everton, Roberto has been of interest to English sides including Spurs and Chelsea after being offered around a number of sides. Barcelona proposed a recent deal to Chelsea regarding using Roberto in part exchange for another player although it looks a very unlikely proposition.

Chelsea has been trying for two years to persuade Southampton to sell Shaw to them, with interest also being shown by Spurs. Manchester United would not likely want to pay the sort of fee that will be asked and I suspect will not look for a deal. Don't hold your breath.}
It is very unlikely anything will happen in the short-term. Chelsea, Ajax and Manchester City have all held discussions about Tielemans and at least one has had an offer rejected. Once he is 18 I think there may be a change.

Ajax's Ricardo van Rhijn has impressed a number of clubs including Chelsea, Fiorentina, Juventus and Inter Milan. Reportedly AC Milan has also watched the player. Chelsea has raised the possibility of a move.

Inter, Napoli, Manchester City and Chelsea remain interested in Zouma. Arsenal and Manchester United looked at Zouma previously and may show further interest. His price makes him an attractive proposition.

As for players leaving, almost certainly De Bruyne, possibly Cole and/or Bertrand, Ba if a deal can be agreed because of insurance matters. Slim chance that Essien will leave. A couple of loans will be agreed - Bamford will be one.}

So all in all we are going to sign gurain! Bloody great! Why can't the club buy players that we actually need! We need defenders and strikers

{Ed002's Note - I should not say anything. Apologies to everyone.}

Cheers ed must of taken but of time. Appreciated mate

Wow, Ed. That's amazing. Thank you very very much for all of that information. Simply brilliant!

Now let's beat Arsenal tomorrow :)

22 Dec 2013 20:13:45
If you don't mind Ed, can you please tell us what the proposal from Barca is?
Nice work man.

{Ed002's Note - They had an interest in CA.}

Is De bruyne likely to be sold or leave on loan?

{Ed002's Note - I suspect it is up for grabs but he wants to move on. I think we could see a sale, a loan or perhaps a loan to buy. An outside cahnce might involve another player.}

Ed, that is a fantastic post. Thanks a bunch!

Thanks ed

Hi Ed, thanks a lot for all the information but just to make sure, have we dropped our interest in Yilmaz for the time being?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers ed002!

Fantastic read, thanks Ed

Simply fab post ed cheers for your time

Thanks a lot Ed, any chance of knowing the teams interested in taking De Bruyne on either loan or permanent basis, it would be a shame to see him leave on a permanent, thanks.

{Ed002's Note - There was a discussion about him moving back to Atletico Madrid and I would not dismiss that as a viable option. Bayer Leverkusen were very interested but I don't know if their signing Wolfsburg Julian Brandt would change that. Wolfsburg themselves and Schalke 04 have also enquired but I suspect he will not move to either.}

Ok, thanks ed.

23 Dec 2013 17:43:49
Thanks for the update ed, really hope we can get our hands on a decent striker and defensive mid but am not hopeful. We will probably sign another attacking mid! I am never sure if I enjoy the windows or just find them painful.

Thanks ed, that must have taken some time! We all appreciate it!