Chelsea FC transfer headlines: Kurt Zouma West Ham move, Chelsea Odegaard pursuit, Lucas Gourna interest, Coventry City loan Maatsen, Jules Kounde priority transfer.
Kurt Zouma is reportedly one step closer to joining West Ham United.
Kurt Zouma is reportedly one step closer to joining West Ham United from Chelsea, with the Frenchman keen on settling in the Premier League.
According to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari, Kurt Zouma’s inclination is to remain within the Premier League. To that end, the French defender has made it obvious that he does not wish to be a part of the deal to bring Jules Kounde from Sevilla to Chelsea, and will instead be joining West Ham United instead.
The interest from West Ham makes a lot of sense, considering they need to make quality signings to sustain their position inside the top half of the Premier League table. In addition, with Fabian Balbuena being released and Issa Diop facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium, the Hammers need to bolster their defence anyway.
To that end, Zouma is a viable target for West Ham, who have now been handed a major boost in his pursuit due to his desire to remain in the Premier League. As for Chelsea, they might have to pursue a straight cash deal for Kounde, with Sevilla demanding €80 million for the Frenchman.
Arsenal joined by Chelsea and Liverpool in race to sign Real Madrid midfielder
Arsenal have been joined by Chelsea and Liverpool in the pursuit to sign Martin Odegaard, according to Fichajes.
Odegaard joined Arsenal on loan in the January transfer window, having strived to force his way into Zinedine Zidane’s thinking at Real Madrid.
With Zidane since having withdrawn, and Odegaard returned to Real Madrid, the theory was that he’d stay with Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the upcoming campaign.
However, a report by Fichajes implies that Odegaard could have several chances to depart Madrid this summer, should he wish to do so.
The report alleges that Arsenal are keen on re-signing Odegaard, which is unsurprising, but Chelsea and Liverpool are also named as potential suitors.
It remains to be seen if either club would welcome a loan deal in the manner that Arsenal did back in the winter, or would look to attempt something permanent.
Odegaard’s agent could be in for a busy end to the summer transfer window, if the information provided by Fichajes proves to be accurate…
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Chelsea tracking Saint-Etienne teenage prospect, Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund also keen
Chelsea are interested in signing Saint-Etienne prospect Lucas Gourna-Douath, according to RMC Sport.
Chelsea have made a custom in recent seasons of stockpiling some of the world’s most exciting talent.
It may seem a little unnecessary reporting on links between the Blues and players like Gourna-Douath, who is just 17-years-old, with the reality being he’ll likely never make an appearance for the club, should he sign.
Still, RMC Sport believe that the teenager is of interest to Chelsea, with Marina Granovskaia probably licking her lips at the prospect of flipping him for big-money further down the line.
The report claims that Chelsea will face competition from Atalanta, who are thought to be preparing a €10M bid, as well as Borussia Dortmund, who LOVE a talented youngster, as has been well-established.
Ultimately, if Chelsea want a player they usually get them. That’s not applicable in all cases, but when we’re discussing a 17-year-old playing his football for a club like Saint-Etienne, it applies.
We’ll have to wait and see if Marina is able to work her magic and get him through the door.
Coventry City loan Maatsen from Chelsea
Dutch left-back Ian Maatsen has been loaned from Chelsea to Coventry City.
The 19-year-old has made one first-team appearance for Chelsea, but last season Maatsen was loaned to League One side Charlton Athletic.
Maatsen made 35 appearances for Charlton and the Dutchman will now spend a season in the English Championship. Coventry City have loaned the defender for a year.
Maatsen is a Netherlands U18 international and was part of the U17 side that won the European Championships in 2019.
Chelsea ‘view Jules Kounde as priority transfer target’
Chelsea are reportedly locked in talks with Sevilla over Jules Kounde, as the Blues are determined to bring the centre-back to Stamford Bridge during this summer’s transfer window.
The 22-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2020-21 campaign at club level before being included in the France squad for Euro 2020, making one appearance for the world champions.
Chelsea have been strongly linked with Kounde in recent days, although it is thought that the Blues are not prepared to pay Sevilla’s £68m asking price.
Kurt Zouma could allegedly move to the Spanish club as a makeweight, but the centre-back is believed to be keen to remain in the Premier League amid interest from West Ham United and Crystal Palace.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are ‘working to find a solution’ with Sevilla, as Thomas Tuchel’s side view him as a ‘priority’ signing in the current market.
Personal terms between the two parties have allegedly already been agreed, and the Frenchman is thought to be pushing to join the Champions League holders.
If Chelsea still want to sign Sevilla’s highly-rated centre-back, Jules Kounde, this summer, then it appears the only way that they will be able to do so is if they pay through the nose for his services.
That’s because the potential makeweight in any deal to bring the player to the Premier League, has no interest in moving the opposite way to La Liga.
It was believed that Thomas Tuchel was prepared to throw in Kurt Zouma as a carrot for any deal with the Andalusians, and it appeared to be progressing nicely with Sevilla understood to be content to take a player-plus-cash arrangement.
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