Watch: Fabrizio Romano updates Chelsea fans on 3 transfer targets
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and owner Todd Boehly are going to be busy until the very last minute of the summer transfer window – and journalist Fabrizio Romano has brought us an update on three targets the Blues are currently chasing.
After securing the signatures of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella to bolster the first-team squad, Chelsea are now working on negotiating further additions.
Namely, according to Romano, they are Barcelona forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Leicester centre-back Wesley Fofana and Everton forward Anthony Gordon.
Tuchel stated earlier in the summer that Chelsea need quality players through the door if they are to challenge for titles this season, having lost the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
That message has been reinforced by stuttering start to the Premier League season.
After shading a 1-0 win at Everton in their opening game, Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by Tottenham at home and lost 3-0 to Leeds the following Sunday.
In the wake of the Leeds game, Tuchel said: “The transfer period is still open and it gets later and later and we need to focus on what we have and what we can do.”
In his latest YouTube video, Fabrizio Romano has been given us some more detail about just what that business might involve.
Romano began: “Let me start with Chelsea, because they’ve been really busy on the market in the last 24, 48 hours, working on many deals, outgoings and, of course, new signings.
“While I’m speaking, on Tuesday night, still no full agreement between Barcelona and Chelsea for Pierre Aubameyang, still a negotiation.
“Barcelona are still asking for €30million, so no full agreement between the two clubs. Aubameyang is waiting.”
READ: Comparing Anthony Gordon’s stats to Chelsea’s current forwards
In more positive news, however, Romano added: “Chelsea submitted two bids in the last 24 hours.
“The third bid for Wesley Fofana to Leicester, £70million, add-ons included.
“Many of you are saying that it seems the same kind of bid as the last one, but let me say there are different kinds of bids – payment terms, add-ons, structure. This is how you build a proposal. This is what Chelsea did with Leicester, [but] they said no, they are not selling Fofana for £70milion.
“This deal is also part of a strategy, because the time of the deal will be important, Chelsea are still insisting, the player is pushing, Fofana wants Chelsea, he has an agreement on a six-year deal.
“So it’s up to Chelsea now to decide when they want to try with a new bid. But the feeling internally is that they will try again.”
Romano went on to rubbish reports that Chelsea are negotiating with Manchester United over the potential signing of England defender Harry Maguire, saying, “there is nothing going on… Fofana is the top target for Chelsea.”
Finally, Romano said: “A new bid for Anthony Gordon. Top talent from Everton. [Chelsea] are prepared to pay around £60million, also, in this case, add-ons included.
“Difficult add-ons, so the potential fees are £50million, plus difficult add-ons to arrive to a potential 60.
“But still not full agreement with Everton. They want more than this, they want to keep the player. Frank Lampard is a big fan of the player and he is convinced that he could have a bigger value in maybe six months or 12 months, and this is why Everton are still not so happy with the Chelsea proposal.
“But the same as Fofana, he has agreed personal terms with Chelsea. Long-term contact, he wants to go to Chelsea. he knows that Thomas Tuchel is a big fan.”
You can watch the full video below.
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