Chelsea are making moves to get rid, with three players bought last summer on the scapheap and swap deals aplenty at Stamford Bridge.
DAN MAKING A MARC
Newcastle reportedly fancy bringing Marc Cucurella to St James’ Park this summer with Mauricio Pochettino thought to be willing to sanction his exit.
Cucurella moved to Stamford Bridge in a £60m deal from Brighton as Chelsea beat off stiff competition for his signature from Manchester City after the full-back was named the Seagulls’ player of the year after his first season at the club.
It was current Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth who brought Cucurella to Brighton from Getafe when he was the club’s technical director and he’s keen on landing the 24-year-old’s signature once again, according to Mirror.
Pochettino has reportedly given the go-ahead for Chelsea to sell Cucurella, and it’s claimed they would be prepared to accept just half of what they paid Brighton for him 12 months ago as they look to sell players early in the window.
Chelsea need to sell players before 30th June if player sales are to be included in the account books for 2022-23 season.
DEEP SAUDI POCKETS
With that deadline in mind the deep pockets of the four Saudi Pro League sides now propped up by the Public Investment Fund could be very useful to Chelsea.
N’Golo Kante has already made the move to Al Ittihad, though he was at the end of his contract, meaning he left for nothing, but four further Chelsea players are thought to be on the Saudi radar.
Transfer expert Efrem Konur claims ‘Al-Hilal has reached an agreement with Kalidou Koulibaly on personal terms’, and they ‘continue to negotiate’ with Chelsea over the price.
And Mundo Deportivo claims the Blues are also looking to sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech to Saudi clubs.
CHELSEA SWAPS
Chelsea also need to sign players though, with midfield a particular area of concern for Pochettino.
Moises Caicedo is his top target and talks are said to be ongoing with Brighton over the deal.
They want Levi Colwill, who spent last year on loan at the Amex, either as part of the deal or in a separate agreement, though Chelsea aren’t keen to part with the young Englishman.
They are though seemingly ready to see the back of Conor Gallagher, and the England international is being dangled as part of a potential swap for Caicedo.
Chelsea have also told Inter Milan that they can have Romelu Lukaku if they offer Italy international Nicolo Barella – who’s been linked with Newcastle and Liverpool – in exchange, but the Serie A side aren’t keen.
