While the Chelsea FC 2018 summer transfer window has been a total nothing burger thus far, once the first big move gets made, a whole bunch of other transaction dominoes should fall. Within a few days Maurizio Sarri will likely be in, and Antonio Conte out as Blues boss. The managerial uncertainty is what has obstructed transfer business up to this point.
An article in The Telegraph today reveals that Stamford Bridge are interested in replacing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with Alisson Becker; the AS Roma and Brazil number 1. Becker is also a target of Real Madrid and Liverpool.
The same article states that Chelsea are also in talks for Russia and CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder Aleksandr Golovin.
The pursuit of Golovin is likely driven, at least to an extent, by concerns over Willian departing to Manchester United and Eden Hazard bolting for Real Madrid. Golovin, or maybe Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, could end up being the first signing of the Sarri era at Chelsea.
Overall, we could be headed for a “watch this space” couple of months here before the transfer window closes. Getting back to the Courtois-Becker narrative, there’s a apparently a goalkeeper carousel possible this summer. The Telegraph writes:
Real Madrid are interested in both Courtois and Roma’s Alisson, with the Belgian keen to return to Spain. Paris St-Germain have also considered making a move, but are set to sign Gianluigi Buffon.
Should Chelsea receive an acceptable bid for Courtois, then Alisson, who is valued at around £60?million by Roma, appears to be the club’s first-choice replacement.
With Madrid in the market for a Keylor Navas upgrade, and Liverpool looking likewise in regards to their current #1 Loris Karius, things could very interesting soon. Courtois has openly pined for a return to Spain, where his family resides, on several occasions.
World Cup results will play a role as well. The more these goalkeepers excel at the tournament with their national sides, the more in demand they’ll be and thus see their transfer fees increase.
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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