Chelsea Transfers

[Vesper 30,106]

Exclusive: Chelsea 'Surprised' £100,000-a-Week Star Stayed This Summer

https://www.givemesport.com/Chelsea-transfer-news-surprised-carney-chukwuemeka-stayed-this-summer-stamford-bridge/

Chelsea are stunned that West Ham United target Carney Chukwuemeka has remained at Stamford Bridge as head coach Enzo Maresca and members of the hierarchy were certain that they would be able to offload him before the transfer window slammed shut last week, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Maresca has secured a significant boost following the closure of the transfer window, thanks to Nicolas Jackson agreeing a contract extension which will keep him at Chelsea until the summer of 2033, but he is now facing a dilemma over how to reintegrate the likes of Chukwuemeka into his plans.

Blues Stunned Chukwuemeka Did Not Depart

West Ham and Manchester United were among midfielder's suitors

 

Chelsea are surprised that Chukwuemeka is still among Maresca's options as they had a series of conversations with suitors over a potential switch prior to last Friday's 11pm cut-off point, according to GMS sources, but he is still facing an uncertain future in his current surroundings.

The Blues were open to sanctioning the midfielder's departure despite him still having four years remaining on his £100,000-per-week contract, which includes a £40million release clause, but none of his admirers were willing to meet the west Londoners' demands and wrap up a last-minute deal.

GMS sources have been informed that West Ham were one of the interested parties locked in discussions over Chukwuemeka during the final stages of the summer transfer window, having seen the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leapfrog him in the Chelsea pecking order, but their advances came to nothing.

The 20-year-old's prospects of becoming one of the first names on the team sheet have been hindered by co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali turning to Maresca to succeed Mauricio Pochettino, with him failing to make a matchday squad since the new season got underway and his last outing coming on April 15.

West Ham were not the only Premier League rivals tempted to offer Chukwuemeka an escape route out of Stamford Bridge, as Manchester United also explored the possibility of finding an agreement at the eleventh hour, but he is at serious risk of falling by the wayside over the course of the coming months.

GMS sources have been told that Chukwuemeka embarking on a fresh challenge when the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year cannot be ruled out, with admirers potentially looking to take advantage and make a fresh move if he is forced to contend with limited game time before January.

Although Chelsea parted with £20million in order to land the seven-cap England under-20 international from Aston Villa in August 2022, his hopes of making his mark under Maresca appear to have been blocked, and he will be desperately attempting to force the Italian tactician into a swift U-turn by impressing during training sessions.

But being frozen out of the Blues' squad during the first half of the campaign could benefit Chukwuemeka if he is looking to move onto pastures new, instead of battling for a route into the capital club's future plans, as GMS sources have learned that interest will return during the early stages of 2025 if he is not handed first-team opportunities.

All statistics courtesy of FBref and Sofascore

[Vesper 30,106]

3 hours ago, Vesper said:

 João Rêgo

Chelsea Already Eyeing Move for Benfica Star Just Days After Transfer Window Shuts

https://eplindex.com/119297/report-Chelsea-already-eyeing-move-for-benfica-star-just-days-after-transfer-window-shuts.html

Chelsea’s ambitious approach to the transfer market shows no signs of slowing down, as they now set their sights on Benfica’s emerging talent, Joao Rego. According to credible reports from Record.pt, the London club’s interest in the 19-year-old has peaked following his impressive performances for Benfica’s B team.

Tracking Rising Stars

Joao Rego, with only two senior appearances for Benfica, has nonetheless made significant strides with the club’s B team. As a versatile player who can operate as an attacking midfielder or a left winger, Rego has played 28 times for the B team, scoring two goals and providing three assists. This budding talent has caught the eye of several top European clubs, but it is Chelsea who are making “constant observations and collecting positive indicators,” about the young star’s potential.

Chelsea’s Youth-Driven Strategy

Under Todd Boehly’s ownership, Chelsea has committed to a strategy of investing in youth, having spent around €1.2 billion on players, predominantly those under 23. This strategy is exemplified by the acquisition of Enzo Fernandez, another former Benfica player, who joined Chelsea for a British record fee of €121 million. Fernandez’s arrival in January 2023 after a stellar World Cup performance highlights the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent capable of competing at the highest levels.

Rego’s Future Prospects

Despite the keen interest, Chelsea have yet to make a formal offer for Rego. The young star still has four years left on his contract with Benfica, who are expected to demand a hefty sum for his services. This situation presents a complex challenge for Chelsea, as they need to weigh the potential impact on their squad against the financial outlay required to secure such a promising player.

Benfica’s Stance on Transfers

Benfica, on their part, are accustomed to nurturing young talent and are unlikely to let Rego leave without a fight. The club’s track record of developing and then selling players at a premium has been a cornerstone of their strategy. As such, any negotiations for Rego are expected to be anything but straightforward.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

As an intrigued Chelsea fan, the prospect of acquiring Joao Rego is an exciting one. His development at Benfica mirrors that of Enzo Fernandez before his successful transition to Stamford Bridge. The potential for Rego to make a similar impact in the Premier League cannot be underestimated. Given Chelsea’s clear intent to build a young, dynamic squad, adding a talent like Rego could significantly bolster their attacking options, especially on the left wing where creativity and flair are crucial.

However, the economic implications of such a transfer during a period of heavy investment are also a concern. Chelsea has already committed considerable resources to reshaping the squad under Boehly’s direction. Fans will hope that any move for Rego is not just a speculative addition but a calculated step towards strengthening the team’s competitiveness both domestically and in Europe.

This strategy of investing in youth has indeed rejuvenated the squad but has also raised expectations. As Chelsea continues to integrate young stars, the pressure will be on these players to perform. Therefore, while the excitement around Rego’s potential signing is justified, it comes with the hope that he will quickly adapt and thrive, contributing to Chelsea’s ambitions of achieving both immediate success and long-term growth.

 

Chelsea scouts blown away by 19 y/o from the same academy as Joao Felix

https://www.footballfancast.com/Chelsea-news-scouts-blown-away-by-benfica-academy-star-joao-rego/

[Vytis33 1,262]

Scratched out an extra 10k to play in turkey.  Congrats 

 

 

[Vesper 30,106]

1 minute ago, Vytis33 said:

Scratched out an extra 10k to play in turkey.  Congrats 

 

 

Napoli are still on the hook for the rest of his salary

[Vesper 30,106]

Exclusive: Everton 'Rejected' Swap Deal Involving £210,000-a-Week Trio

https://www.givemesport.com/everton-transfer-news-rejected-swap-deal-calvert-lewin-disasi-fofana-goodison-park/

Everton turned down the opportunity to recruit Chelsea outcasts Axel Disasi and David Datro Fofana in a high-profile swap deal which would have seen Dominic Calvert-Lewin bring the curtain down on his Goodison Park career during the final stages of the summer transfer window, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Although the Toffees' season has got off to a worrying start, having been consigned to a third consecutive defeat thanks to Bournemouth overturning a two-goal deficit last weekend, boss Sean Dyche was busy ahead of last week's deadline and ended up spending more than £42million on reinforcements.

Amadou Onana was the biggest name to leave Everton, thanks to completing a £50million switch to Premier League rivals Aston Villa as director of football Kevin Thelwell oversaw the Merseyside outfit's transfer business, and they were unwilling to sanction Calvert-Lewin's departure.

Calvert-Lewin was firmly on Chelsea's radar during the final stages of the summer window, according to GMS sources, but Everton did not entertain agreeing terms as their domestic counterparts were pushing to include Disasi and Fofana as part of the deal which would have seen the frontman head to Stamford Bridge.

The England international has entered the final months of his £100,000-per-week contract on Merseyside, meaning the Toffees are in danger of seeing him walk away as a free agent at the end of the season, and that resulted in the west Londoners being confident that they had spotted an opportunity to pounce without having to fork out a significant fee for his services.

But GMS sources have been informed that Everton were not interested in doing business with Chelsea when they took a brief look at Calvert-Lewin as a striker option because there was determination from the capital club to send Disasi and Fofana in the opposite direction instead of meeting his price tag.

The 27-year-old is one of the first names on the team sheet even though there are doubts over his long-term future, with him grabbing two goal contributions during the first three Premier League encounters of the campaign, and Dyche was keen to avoid being left with little time to secure a replacement.

GMS recently reported that Chelsea were unwilling to pay more than £12.5million for Calvert-Lewin if a cash deal would only be considered on deadline day, with them using Federico Chiesa's move to Liverpool after entering the closing stages of his Juventus contract as a yard-stick for his valuation.

GMS sources have been told that Chelsea were particularly hopeful of tempting Everton into sanctioning a deal which would see Disasi and Fofana embark on a fresh challenge at Goodison Park because they do not feature at the forefront of head coach Enzo Maresca's plans.

The Italian tactician has wasted no time in making his mark at Stamford Bridge, having been appointed as Mauricio Pochettino's successor, and the duo were on the market as the Blues were keen to get their combined salaries of £110,000-per-week off their wage bill during the latter stages of the transfer window.

But Everton had already brought in a fresh centre-back option in the form of Jake O'Brien - thanks to reaching a £17million agreement with Lyon in July - resulting in Disasi not being a primary target, and Fofana has struggled to show that he would be an able replacement for Calvert-Lewin as a first-choice marksman.

[Vytis33 1,262]

 

[Vytis33 1,262]

 

[manpe 10,861]

3 minutes ago, Vytis33 said:

 

So glad we didn't sign. Flop written all over him.

[TheHulk 2,418]

16 minutes ago, Vytis33 said:

 

Came, did nothing and left. Great scouting.

[King Kante 1,643]

47 minutes ago, TheHulk said:

Came, did nothing and left. Great scouting.

I think there are clearly players who are brought with a view to churn through the loan system and makes small profits on, with a potential they explod.

I am fine with Angelo type buys, he hasn't really cost us anything - although there is a danger someone like Washington is going to just get lost in the system, but that is another conversation.

The bigger problem for me is when we get Disaster and Sanchez level players to play in the first team. 

[Gundalf 805]

1 hour ago, TheHulk said:

Came, did nothing and left. Great scouting.

8m profit. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,493]

22 minutes ago, King Kante said:

The bigger problem for me is when we get Disaster and Sanchez level players to play in the first team

Still can't believe we funded Brighton's transfer window by signing three of their players for around 200 million (GK, LB, CM). 

I don't see us getting out of Disasi's contract unless a Saudi side needs a defender...😆

[LAM09 7,043]

1 hour ago, Vytis33 said:

 

I thought there had to be a clause. Either way, I can't see any side of note touching him in Jan after his agent's antics. 

[Nero 1,869]

 

[robsblubot 3,595]

1 minute ago, Nero said:

 

Was never a fan of the player--good physical player with incredible acceleration and power--but not really my cup of tea.

Still, something seems off with him, and/or his agent. Maybe I don't know the whole story, but did he not sign a new deal not that long ago (in 23)?