Chelsea are set for an active end to the transfer window with owner Todd Boehly aiming for multiple arrivals and departures before the deadline.
Boehly has invested heavily in his first summer since taking ownership from Roman Abramovich and the Express are reporting that the Blues’ summer spending is set to continue into the final weeks of the window.
Chelsea have seen two bids turned down for Wesley Fofana, but are expected to return with an improved offer for the Leicester centre-back. The club’s latest proposal is believed to have been in the region of £70m and it is expected to take a world-record offer for the Foxes to consider a sale.
Thomas Tuchel is also interested in a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona. Manchester United’s failed pursuit of the midfielder has freed a path for Chelsea to make their move and the prospect of Champions League football could tempt the Dutchman to the Premier League.
Chelsea also retain an interest in signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona, with Tuchel having worked alongside the forward at Borussia Dortmund. The 33-year-old has been linked with an exit following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski at the Camp Nou.
Cesare Casadei is expected to be the next arrival after Chelsea agreed a deal with Inter Milan for the midfielder, while the club have also targeted full-back Denzel Dumfries from the Serie A side.
Cesare Casadei to Chelsea, here we go. Inter will receive €15m plus €5m in add-ons, documents ready & now set to be signed. There’s no buy back clause. 🚨🔵 #CFC
Six year deal, medical in 48h. Boehly wanted Casadei as part of top talents strategy after Carney and Hutchinson. pic.twitter.com/lDSFV6E110
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 16, 2022
Casadei is the latest teenage talent targeted, following the arrivals of Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa and Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina. Chelsea have also seen a bid of around £40m turned down for Everton’s Anthony Gordon, 21, as the club look to the future.
In terms of outgoings, Marcos Alonso is expected to complete a move to Barcelona, while fellow left-back Emerson Palmieri is a target for West Ham after Marc Cucurella’s arrival pushed both down the pecking order.
Ross Barkley, Kenedy, Ethan Ampadu and Michy Batshuayi have been deemed surplus to requirements with the latter linked with Everton. Billy Gilmour could be allowed to leave on loan, following a disappointing spell at Norwich last season.
Conor Gallagher and Callum Hudson-Odoi could also leave on loan. Hudson-Odoi has expressed a desire for an exit to secure regular first-team football, while the signing of a midfielder could free Gallagher to depart on loan.
Crystal Palace are favourites to re-sign the 22-year-old after a successful loan last season, though both West Ham and Newcastle are interested.
