CHELSEA have already signed Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan but there are other two world-class players they are still working on before the deadline.
Two wins out
of two, five goals and two clean sheets mark a perfect start for Chelsea. The
Blues have carried on from where they left off last season to mount a Premier
League title challenge.
The
club-record €115 million capture of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan has
strengthened their claim. The Belgian proved his money’s worth in only 15
minutes against Arsenal on Sunday. If he keeps that up, a first league title
since 2017 and a Golden Boot could surely arrive at Stamford Bridge.
But Thomas Tuchel, like any
other top manager, is always looking for ways to improve. While happy with his current squad, the German would like
another player – ideally a defender – before the transfer window shuts.
So as the transfer deadline day creeps ever closer, let’s see
which players could still leave or join Chelsea this summer.
Jules Kounde
– In
Chelsea’s interest in Jules Kounde is no secret. It’s been out
in the open for most of the summer. Trevoh Chalobah may have impressed in
defense recently, but Tuchel still wants to add another proven defender to his
ranks.
Time is definitely not on the
Blues’ side, though. Sevilla won’t sell Kounde in the last few days of this
month, meaning Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia must make an offer soon.
Saul Niguez –
In
A surprise name in Saul Niguez has cropped up on Chelsea’s
radar.
The Atletico Madrid star could
reportedly head to Stamford Bridge on loan this season. With Billy Gilmour
on loan at Norwich City, Tuchel would like another
midfielder. But a deal for Saul could rest on whether Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ethan
Ampadu, Ross Barkley, Danny Drinkwater or Tiemoue Bakayoko leave.
Kurt Zouma –
Out
The France international fell out of favor under Tuchel last
season and hasn’t played a minute of Premier League football this term either,
having been benched for of Chelsea’s opening two matches.
Zouma is on borrowed time and
Kounde’s potential arrival could fast-forward his exit from west London. As
per The Athletic, West Ham would pay Chelsea €30 million to
sign the defender. But the Hammers are yet to agree on personal terms with
Zouma.
Davide
Zappacosta – Out
Davide Zappacosta is on course to end a four-year spell with
Chelsea by joining Atalanta for a reported €10 million fee.
The right-back has made just 52 appearances for Chelsea since
his €25 million arrival from Torino in August 2017. He has spent the last two
seasons on loan at Serie A clubs Roma and Genoa.
Ike Ugbo –
Out
Despite impressing during pre-season, Ike Ugbo is on course to
leave Chelsea.
The 22-year-old is a product of
the club’s youth system but never broke into the first team. He has spent the
last five seasons out on loan and will now join Genk on a permanent deal. He
has arrived in Belgium and, as per Kristof Terreur,
will undergo medicals shortly.
Tiemoue
Bakayoko – Out
The former Monaco midfielder has never lived up to his €40
million price tag. Since arriving in 2017, Tiemoue Bakayoko has made just 43
appearances for Chelsea and gone out on loan three times.
Now AC Milan, who signed Bakayoko for a loan spell in 2018/19,
want him back on a permanent deal. The Frenchman is reportedly willing to take
a huge pay cut to return to San Siro.
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