Chelsea transfer news LIVE: Caicedo given £80m price tag, Blues announce wonderkid signing, Ugarte deal OFF, Man United in talks with Mount, Real Madrid close on Havertz
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours from Chelsea in talkSPORT's live blog.
New Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino will have to hit the ground running once the summer window officially opens after inheriting a mess at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea finished a pitiful 12th in the Premier League - their lowest since the 1993/94 season - following a series of errors on and off the pitch.
Pochettino will be keen to bring his own players in to put his stamp on an already oversized squad but equally that may mean several high-profile stars could be on their way out.
Top stories
- Chelsea told Moises Caicedo transfer fee as Blues step up interest in Arsenal and Liverpool target
- Chelsea turn to Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia after refusing to match Paris Saint-Germain’s offer to Manuel Ugarte
- Kai Havertz to Real Madrid ‘imminent’ as Chelsea star emerges as potential Karim Benzema replacement
- Christopher Nkunku fires RB Leipzig to cup glory as he prepares for Chelsea move
- Mason Mount agrees terms with Manchester United
- Man City in talks to sign Mateo Kovacic
Follow our live blog below for all the latest news from Chelsea…
N’Golo Kante is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia with contract talks with Chelsea still ongoing.
The midfielder’s current deal runs out this summer and he is yet to agree to a new one with his future at Stamford Bridge up in the air.
And according to The Mail, this uncertainty had led to some interest from Saudi Arabia as they look to swoop in to bring the sign the Frenchman as a free agent.
talkSPORT understands that Chelsea are looking at bringing in Moises Caicedo or Romeo Lavia with both possibly being targeted to replace Kante.
If he is to make the move to Saudi Arabia, he is likely to join international teammate Karim Benzema who has just left Real Madrid and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chelsea have announced the signing of Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Paez.
Paez will join the Blues following his 18th birthday after the club confirmed his move from Independiente del Valle this afternoon.
The youngster has already built a reputation as one of the best young talents in the world after impressing in South America with his skilful approach.
He started all of Ecuador’s games at this summer’s U20 World Cup, scoring three goals and assisting four during the tournament.
Chelsea target Romeo Lavia has spoken to Eden Hazard about his experience at Stamford Bridge amid transfer links to the club.
talkSPORT understands that the Blues are interested in signing Lavia from Southampton this summer after they refused to match PSG’s contract offer for Manuel Ugarte.
The club’s recruitment guru Joe Shields is pushing for a move for Lavia, having taken the Belgian to the south coast from Manchester City when he worked for the Saints.
And hopes of signing the midfielder have been boosted, with Express Sport reporting that Chelsea legend Hazard has been speaking to his international teammate.
Speaking ahead of the World Cup, Hazard actively encouraged Lavia to head to Stamford Bridge if the opportunity arrives.
Former Chelsea star Eden Hazard could retire from football after leaving Real Madrid.
Phil Kitromilides, host of the Spanish Football Podcast, has stated the 32-year-old could hang up his boots after becoming a free agent.
Speaking on the White and Jordan show, Kitromilides was asked what the Spanish reporters believe Hazard’s next move is.
To which he said: “They’re saying he might retire, they’re saying that might be it for Eden Hazard, who joined Real as one of the best players in the world and his career has just fallen off a cliff.
“There’s a real suggestion that Eden Hazard is going to retire, he’s not going to go anywhere else.
“There was notions that a team in the MLS – from Vancouver I think it was – were potentially interested in him.
“But really, I’m not sure what Eden Hazard would want.”
Chelsea’s asking price for Kai Havertz has been revealed amid Real Madrid interest.
According to SkySportDE, Chelsea will be asking for around 50-60 million euros plus bonuses for Havertz.
The German is viewed a possible replacement for Karim Benzema with the Spanish giants also looking at signing Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
Havertz is seen as a cheaper option to Kane and talks are now ongoing between the two clubs, with the forward reportedly open to the move.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is moving closer to an exit from Chelsea this summer.
talkSPORT understands that Loftus-Cheek is already in advanced negotiations with Italian giants AC Milan and is willing to take a pay cut to seal the move.
And now the two clubs have moved even closer to agreeing a deal, according to football.london.
The midfielder is set to be one of five homegrown talents to leave Stamford Bridge in the transfer window, with Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Callum Hudson-Odoi all contenders to go.
The Blues need to raise funds from player sales to trim their bloated squad and finance incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino’s summer rebuild.
Their recruitment team believe their British players will generate the most revenue while also dramatically slashing their wage bill.
After Chelsea pulled out of a deal to sign Manuel Ugarte, the Sporting Lisbon midfielder is set to join PSG.
The Blues were confident of winning the race for Ugarte but refused to match the wages that PSG are offering to the midfielder.
And now the Uruguayan is set to complete his move to France, with the contract to be signed and the player in Paris to complete the medical today, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea target Alexis Mac Allister looks set to join Liverpool this summer.
Liverpool believe they are progressing with a deal to sign Brighton midfielder Mac Allister, talkSPORT understands.
The Seagulls star’s representatives have told Liverpool chiefs the Argentina World Cup winner is keen to play for Jurgen Klopp.
Discussions over personal terms are also already at an advanced stage.
With Mac Allister now looking likely to seal a move to Anfield, Chelsea’s hopes of signing the midfielder seem to have slipped away.
talkSPORT understands Brighton would be interested in a part-exchange deal for Levi Colwill involving Moises Caicedo.
Colwill impressed for the Seagulls having spent the season on loan at the Amex Stadium with Roberto De Zerbi now wanting to sign the defender on a permanent deal.
However, Chelsea rejected their £30m offer last week as Maurico Pochettino wants to keep him.
But with the Blues stepping up their pursuit for Caicedo, the pair could be involved a part-exchange deal with both clubs getting the players they have been targetting.
Chelse are now set to step up their pursuit of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
Brighton will demand a fee of at least £80m for Caicedo, who is also on the shortlist of Arsenal and Liverpool.
Chelsea are targeting the Seagulls midfielder after refusing to match PSG’s offer for Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte.
The Blues are also interested in Southampton’s Romeo Lavia but Caicedo now appears to be the main focus ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s official arrival.
Former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has suffered a horror knee injury on the final game of the season.
Abraham faces the rest of 2023 on the sidelines after landing awkwardly on his left leg just 17 minutes after coming on during Sunday’s 2-1 win against Spezia.
The 25-year-old could be seen visibly upset as he left the pitch on a medical cart.
He was instantly taken to a private clinic, with doctors confirming the worst possible news that he had suffered an ACL injury.
A move back to the Premier League had been mooted, with Roma believed to be willing to sell him for £35million.
Man United were a team reported to be interested while Chelsea have a buy-back clause in his contract, however, any sort of offer for the striker is unlikely after picking up the unfortunate injury.
New Chelsea manager Maurico Pochettino is set to target Victor Osimhen this summer.
Pochettino will need to clear out his squad before making an new signings, with Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Trevoh Chalobah and Callum Hudson-Odoi all contenders to go.
However, once that is done, a new striker is set to be one of his main targets in the transfer window.
And Napoli superstar Osimhen is understood to be one of his priorities, but he likely to cost in excess of £120m.
Chelsea have spent huge amounts of money over the last year and it looks as if they’ll have to break the bank once again to get their man.
Chelsea turn to Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia after pulling out of Manuel Ugarte bid.
After having their offer for Ugarte beaten by Paris Saint-German, the Blues are turning their attention to two young midfielders who starred in the Premier League last season.
New manager Mauricio Pochettino is a big admirer of Caicedo while the Blues’ recruitment guru Joe Shields is pushing for a move for Lavia, having taken the Belgian to the south coast from Manchester City.
Pochettino will officially take over as Chelsea manager at the start of July and the Blues’ bloated squad will need to be trimmed down before adding more new faces.
Hello and welcome back to talkSPORT’s Chelsea transfer news blog! Our top stories are…
Chelsea’s deal to sign Manuel Ugarte from Sporting Lisbon is now OFF after the Blues refused to match PSG’s offer for the midfielder.
The London side had been confident of winning the race for Ugarte after offering Sporting a fee worth MORE than his £55million release clause.
But after being gazumped by the French champions, Chelsea are now set to turn their attentions to Brighton star Moises Caicedo and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia.
Meanwhile, Christopher Nkunku fired RB Leipzig to DFB Pokal glory over the weekend as he said goodbye to the German side ahead of his summer move to Stamford Bridge.
And Mason Mount has been questioned about his Chelsea future at the F1 Spanish Grand Prix.
Mount laughed off Martin Brundle’s question about his potential transfer to Manchester United as he gave an interview on the grid before the race.
That’s all for today’s talkSPORT coverage of Chelsea news.
Return to the blog tomorrow for the latest updates on the Blues!
A potential blow to Chelsea with Moises Caicedo reportedly agreeing personal terms with Arsenal.
Ecuadorian outlet Teradeportes, per the Daily Mirror, says the Gunners reaching next season’s Champions League has seen the Brighton midfielder pick them instead of the Blues.
Manchester United’s move for Mason Mount appears to be moving quickly, with the Red Devils preparing a £50million offer for the England international.
The Daily Telegraph report the bid is expected to be submitted at some point this month.
However, Chelsea are believed to value Mount at around the £70m mark, suggesting there will have to be some serious negotiating.
Huge news coming from Germany that Kai Havertz is really close to completing a move from Chelsea to Real Madrid.
BILD report that a deal between the two clubs could be agreed very quickly after Karim Benzema’s departure from the Bernabeu was confirmed.
Los Blancos are now moving ahead in an effort to find attacking reinforcements and Carlo Ancelotti is a big fan of Havertz, who was Chelsea’s top Premier League goalscorer this season with seven.
Chelsea are demanding £70million to sell Mason Mount to Manchester United this summer.
The Evening Standard report the Blues are looking to extract maximum value from their academy graduate and have slapped a huge transfer fee on his head.
talkSPORT understands the player and United have agreed personal terms, and the Red Devils are preparing an official offer.
They are said to be confident of securing Mount’s signature now that the FA Cup final has passed.
Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell has responded to rumours that Mason Mount is set to leave Stamford Bridge and join Manchester United.
Chilwell is at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix with Mount and Reece James and was quizzed on his teammate’s future by Sky Sports.
When asked about Mount, he said: “It’s none of my business, but I would love him to stay.
“He’s my best mate, but it’s none of my business. I can’t really comment on that.”
Chilwell was then asked about next season and said: “We are very excited.
“We have a big pre-season, a new manager, so it’s up to us to go out there and make next season a good one.”
Mason Mount has responded to rumours about him joining Manchester United this summer.
The England midfielder is at the Spanish Grand Prix along with Reece James and Ben Chilwell.
And ahead of the race, he was asked by Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle about rumours he was set to leave Chelsea.
When told Chilwell had said he was moving to Old Trafford, he laughed and then said: “I am just here to enjoy the day, and I can’t wait to watch it [the Grand Prix].”
Chelsea’s summer exodus of players is racing along, with Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all in talks with clubs over a summer move.
However, one player who Chelsea want to keep is N’Golo Kante, but he is yet to sign a new deal and his current contract expires this month.
Talks were said to have stalled last week, and reports from Italy claim that Al-Ittihad are planning to meet with the Frenchman’s team to thrash out a deal that would see Kante join fellow Frenchman Karim Benzema at the club.
Reece James has revealed he is looking forward to working under Mauricio Pochettino, but would be sad to see Mason Mount depart the club.
talkSPORT understands Mount has agreed personal terms with Manchester United ahead of a summer transfer but his teammate wants him to stay.
Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix to Sky Sports, he said: “If he goes, everyone will be sad to see him go.”
And when asked about Pochettino, he said: “Everyone is saying he’s a great manager, and hopefully, next season, we find our feet early.”
talkSPORT sources understand Real Madrid will launch an offer for Harry Kane after it was confirmed Karim Benzema would leave the club.
Carlo Ancelotti sees the England captain as his top target and Los Blancos are preparing to steal a march on their rivals.
However, Kane’s preference is to remain in the Premier League to break Alan Shearer’s goal record, meaning Chelsea and Manchester United still have hope should Tottenham decide to cash in on Kane.
Real Madrid have confirmed that Karim Benzema’s time at the Bernabeu is over.
In an official statement just released, the LaLiga giants revealed the iconic French forward would leave the club.
This could be bad news for Chelsea, with Carlo Ancelotti targeting Kai Havertz this summer, and with Benzema’s departure, the need for attacking reinforcements becomes even more important for Los Blancos.
They also really like Harry Kane, and this news makes it even more unlikely that there is a reunion between Kane and Mauricio Pochettino this summer.
