In the past week or so it finally became an exciting summer transfer window at Chelsea. Who will be the next to join manager Maurizio Sarri and midfielder Jorginho as new arrivals this summer?
Who will be heading out the Stamford Bridge exit door? Let’s take a spin through the latest transfer rumors and gossip making the rounds on the internet today. As always, until it’s actually an officially done deal, take the rumors with a grain of salt.
–Eden Hazard is of course the hottest current Chelsea summer transfer window related topic and it appears we’re heading towards closure on this narrative.
Reports in Spain indicate that Real Madrid are cooling their interest, and now turning their attention towards Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani.
In order to further cement Hazard’s retention, the Daily Express‘ Tony Banks writes that manager Maurizio Sarri is set to hand the Belgian the Blues’ captaincy this season. If that’s not enough to put the kibosh on a potential sale to Real Madrid, you also have the issue of price. We’ve seen transfer fees reported for Hazard in the £170-£180 million range, which would make him the second most expensive player of all time.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea want to raise the stakes even further and demand he become the first £200 million player in history.
Slapping a price tag that high on a player who will be 28 in January is basically how you announce- “not for sale, period.”
On to the next Chelsea star linked to Real, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will reportedly be moving to the Spanish capital, provided Stamford Bridge get a proper replacement.
Who could that be now?
Potentially Everton and England #1 Jordan Pickford; he’s the top target of the Blues according to Sky Sports.
One of the brightest stars in England’s World Cup run, his market value is soaring right now, but it’s doubtful the Toffees would be willing to part ways with their club player of the year, especially since he just moved up from Sunderland only one year ago.
Sky Sports News also reports that after Pickford, Kasper Schmeichel and Jack Butland are considered the top leading targets.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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