Transfer Talk: Bellingham, Rice top Chelsea's five-man midfield shortlist
With the January transfer window now open around Europe there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Chelsea shortlist five for midfield revamp
Chelsea have drawn up a five-man shortlist of midfielders for the summer, comprised of Benfica‘s Enzo Fernandez, Brighton & Hove Albion duo Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, West Ham United‘s Declan Rice and Borussia Dortmund‘s Jude Bellingham, reports the Telegraph.
World Cup winner Fernandez had been at the top of the Blues’ list for the January transfer window, but talks have stalled due to Benfica demanding that his £112 million releasee clause is met.
With regards to Fernandez’s Argentina teammate Mac Allister and Caicedo, the Seagulls are said to be more willing to listen to offers for the former this winter, with Graham Potter already having worked with both of them.
Rice is expected to leave the Hammers in the summer and has been a key target for owner Todd Boehly, while the Blues join Liverpool, Real Madrid and others in looking to sign Bellingham.
It’s not solely about incomings for Chelsea, though, as they are hoping to extend the contracts of N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount, which are currently set to end in the summer of 2023 and 2024 respectively.
However, Jorginho is expected to leave when his contract expires at the end of a season that has been disappointing so far, with it being questioned whether it would be good business to offer the 31-year-old a new contract.
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PAPER GOSSIP
– Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat has decided that he wants to join Atletico Madrid, reports Foot Mercato, who add that he has been tracked by Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool since his impressive World Cup displays. This could result in the Moroccan staying put if the Premier League offers aren’t matches by Atleti.
– In an interview with Sky Sports Deutschland, Dortmund managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted that Youssoufa Moukoko‘s future is still open.
“The fact that he is now trying to get a good position for himself is legitimate,” he said. “But it’s just as legitimate that we have our ideas and if that’s not congruent, then the cooperation will be just not continued. That is the last consequence, which can also happen. But of course, we hope that he stays with us.”
– Le10Sport claims that Paris Saint-Germain have held a meeting with Marquinhos regarding a possible contract renewal and that an agreement is now in sight. As well as solidifying the Brazilian’s role as an integral part of the squad, Les Parisiens will also make the centre-back one of the club’s highest paid players with the new contract.
– Aston Villa are monitoring the situation of Marseille midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, according to Ekrem Konur. The 23-year-old has impressed in Ligue 1, although L’Equipe have previously said that he could move back to the Premier League where he previously played for Arsenal.
– AC Milan are looking to sign 17-year-old Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Noah Raveyre, according to Calciomercato. The Rossoneri want to find an agreement to sign him immediately but see the Ligue 2 side’s valuation of €1m as too much due to his contract expiring in the summer. Milan will aim to sign him for a lower amount but include bonuses and a percentage of the fee earned from any future move.
