Fabrizio Romano transfer news: Chelsea and Villa DEAL, NEW Man Utd target, Olise TWIST

20 Jun 2024 07:45 BST
6 min read

Football transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed the latest headlines, including Chelsea and Aston Villa closing in on a deal, a twist in the Michael Olise saga and a new name Manchester United are chasing.

Crystal Palace winger Olise has been one of the major names in the market to date, and the France U23 international is still not certain to leave Selhurst Park.

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With interest coming from Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Newcastle, Oliver Glassner’s side have made a last-ditch attempt to keep him at the club, as Romano explained.

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“In that in the last two days, Crystal Palace have offered Michael Olise a new contract, a new deal,” he explained on YouTube. “After last summer, Olise was one step away from joining Chelsea, then Crystal Palace offered him a new deal, with a new salary and a new release clause. They’re trying to do exactly the same strategy.

“Now, it’s up to the player. This time, the player could be tempted.

“Palace have given permission to Chelsea, Newcastle and Bayern to talk to the player. Chelsea are really pushing. They’re prepared to meet Palace’s valuation of the player.

“Their mission is to agree personal terms with the player. They believe agreeing personal terms means to get the deal done. Let’s see what the player decides.

“Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have signed Daichi Kamada, who is joining on a two-year contract from Lazio.”

Chelsea reach £37.5m Maatsen agreement

Chelsea are also close to completing their first major sale of the summer as they close in on a €45m (£37.5m) agreement with Aston Villa over Ian Maatsen, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

Romano has explained why Unai Emery’s side are poised to pay above the figure in his release clause to get the deal done.

“Aston Villa are pushing hard to sign Ian Maatsen, it’s almost a ‘here we go’. Why do I say almost? As I’m talking, Villa are in talks with Maatsen and his agent on personal terms,” he said.

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€24.1M - €40.2M

“They’ve offered him a six-year contract. They’re working on financial terms, on the project and Unai Emery’s ideas for him.

“The agreement is done between Aston Villa and Chelsea. The deal is £37.5m. That’s the agreement.

“Why more than the release clause? Maatsen had a release clause in the contract he signed in January, which was £35m.

“Firstly, the clause has expired. Secondly, Borussia Dortmund tried and tried but never offered £35m. Aston Villa offered £37.5m because with this proposal they will have better payment terms.”

© IMAGO - Ian Maatsen shone for Dortmund

Romano has revealed that there are talks ongoing that will see a player head to Stamford Bridge – but it won’t be Jhon Duran.

“The expectation is that Chelsea could also get a player in this deal,” he said. “It could be an academy player, so don’t expect any big names. The initial idea was to put Jhon Duran in the deal but at the moment Chelsea haven’t decided what they want to do with the striker position.

“They’ve already discussed academy players in a separate story.”

Villa near Juventus swap deal

Romano also detailed the latest in Aston Villa’s swap deal with Juventus, revealing a new name is heading to Villa Park as well as Samuel Iling-Junior.

“Aston Villa are also advancing on a swap deal that will take Douglas Luiz to Juventus,” he confirmed. “He wants to go there, he’s been very clear: he wants Juve. Thiago Motta wants him. It’s a work in progress. The deal is advancing.

“Weston McKennie is no longer part of the deal. There’s no agreement between McKennie and Juventus on his exit conditions. What does that mean? What McKenna has to receive from Juve in the moment he leaves the club.

“Aston Villa are tired of waiting. In the deal, there is €20-25m, plus Samuel Iling-Junior, who was already involved, plus Enzo Barrenechea, an Argentinean midfielder.

“Aston Villa love Matias Soule but at the moment he’s not included in the deal. Juventus value him around €40m, which would change the structure of the deal too much.”

© IMAGO - Douglas Luiz is leaving Aston Villa for Juventus

Man Utd eye ambitious Alvarez deal

Romano revealed that Man Utd could target a “surprise” in midfield earlier this week, and now he has a name who is on the shortlist: West Ham’s Edson Alvarez.

No deal is particularly close, with the reporter warning it will be tough to broker.

“Manchester United have a priority, the centre-back. They will, of course, sign a left-back. They will, of course, sign a striker, they took information on Joshua Zirkzee but he is not the only one they are considering in that position, which is an open story. They are also looking at midfielders,” Romano said.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer rumours

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“It’s not something imminent but internally they are discussing several options in case Casemiro leaves the club or there is room within FFP.

“One of the names they discussed in recent days is Edson Alvarez from West Ham. Very expensive, very difficult deal because he’s a key player for West Ham, but Edson Alvarez is a player Erik ten Hag knows very well. He was with him at Ajax.

“He’s considered a really good player by everyone at Manchester United. It’s not easy and it will take time, but the captain of Mexico is one of the options.”

Manager dominos fall

Romano moved to confirm Roberto De Zerbi’s surprise move to Marseille, which has been on the cards for several days, as well as Steve Cooper’s appointment as Leicester boss.

“Roberto De Zerbi will sign in the next few hours to become new Olympique de Marseille manager. Marseille will also complete a deal to sign Lilian Brassier as their new centre-back. So they’re really busy on the market,” Romano said.

“Leicester City will replace Enzo Maresca with Steve Cooper. The agreement is imminent, despite advanced negotiations with Graham Potter in recent days.”